Ambient vibration tests on three religious buildings in Goriano Sicoli damged during the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake

The present paper provides the main results of the experimental measurements carried out for the purpose of detecting the main natural frequencies and mode shapes of three churches by means of ambient vibration tests. The studied buildings belong to the historical center of Goriano Sicoli, a town placed in the Aquila Earthquake crater, which were seriously damaged due to the seismic event of 06.04.2009. In the first part the tested buildings are described and the main collapse mechanisms provoked by the earthquake, as well as the provisional structures which have been installed, are shown. Successively, the implemented tests and the main obtained outcomes are presented and discussed