The ISCARSAH guidelines on the analysis, conservation and structural restoration of architectural heritage

The paper introduces the main concepts and criteria presented in the Guidelines on the Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration elaborated by the ICOMOS/ISCARSAH committee. The guidelines have been developed with the aim to provide guidance to experts and practitioners working in the study and conservation of structures or the architectural heritage. The guidelines are based on the ICOMOS Charter on the Principles for he Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration of Architectural Heritage elaborated by ISCARSAH and adopted by ICOMOS in 2003. The guidelines are intended to assist the multidisciplinary teams involved in the management of historical structures across all the stages of the study and operation, including the investigation and documentation works, the structural verification and the selection and design of appropriate minimum interventions.Postprint (published version

Micro-modeling of stack bond masonry in compression using a plasticity law

A set of experimental tests to determine the compressive strength of masonry stack prisms has been numerically simulated using a combined plasticity-smeared crack constitutive law employed in three-dimensional analysis

A review on the study of historical structures using integrated invetigation activities for seismic safety assessment. Part II: Model updating and seismic analysis

This paper represents a continuation of a review on the seismic safety assessment of historical structures using some selected integrated investigation activities. In the first part of this review the dynamic investigation was presented. Here a focus is made on the updating of the numerical models used in the assessment phase and the used techniques in the seismic evaluation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A review on the study of historical structures using integrated investigation activities for seismic safety assessment. Part I: Dynamic investigation

Assessment of seismic safety of historical structures is a challenging task because the information available about the assessed structure is usually limited. Therefore, it is often necessary to exploit a number of integrated investigation activities to increase the level of knowledge about the historical structure under consideration. Thus, in the case of any need for providing the structure with strengthening intervention, this intervention will be a minimal and any unnecessary strengthening operations will be avoided. This paper presents a literature review carried out to cover the current state-of-the-art of a number of investigation activities carried out integrally for the seismic safety assessment of historical structures. It is presented in two parts. In this first part, the covered topic is the dynamic investigation of historical structures which includes the dynamic identification tests, the dynamic monitoring, and the modal parameters identification methods with the classical and the advanced techniques like the peak picking and the stochastic subspace identification.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Comparison of similitude laws applied to multi-storey masonry structures with flexible diaphragms

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Journal of Earthquake Engineering on 2022, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13632469.2022.2040655.The present paper discusses similitude laws employed for the shaking-table tests of masonry structures with flexible diaphragms. Two tasks are tackled. First, the paper presents a literature review on similitude laws. The discussion focuses on Cauchy and Cauchy-Froude laws. Second, numerical analysis is performed to examine the accuracy and adequacy of the aforementioned two laws. Two previously performed shaking-table tests are taken advantage of as the case studies. The paper explores the ideal applications of similitude laws to the shaking table tests of masonry structures with flexible diaphragms by comparing the behaviour between full-scale prototypes and reduced-scale models.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Fiabilidad de las estructuras patrimoniales

Las estructuras de las construcciones históricas plantean retos específicos al analista debido a la necesidad de conjugar las exigencias de naturaleza resistente con la preservación de sus caracteres históricos y culturales. Modernamente, se reconoce que el fin último de la conservación de todo tipo de patrimonio cultural estriba en la preservación de su autenticidad en términos tanto materiales como intangibles. La estructura que sustenta una construcción histórica constituye asimismo una parte importante del patrimonio y debe ser tratada desde esta misma óptica. Ello conlleva que toda intervención de mantenimiento, reparación o refuerzo deba respetar y hasta potenciar los distintos valores culturales ligados a la propia estructura. En la práctica, estos conceptos llevan a preferir intervenciones muy respetuosas y de carácter mínimo. No obstante, y con el fin de reducir a límites aceptables los riegos para las personas y para el posible contenido cultural inamovible del edificio, es necesario conciliar el carácter mínimo de la intervención con la satisfacción de un nivel adecuado de fiabilidad estructural. Estas ideas se desarrollan a continuación a partir de la consideración algunos documentos internacionales, entre los que cabe destacar el Documento de Nara sobre Autenticidad (1994), y las recomendaciones del comité ISCARSAH. Se presentan asimismo algunas ideas consideradas en la elaboración del Anejo sobre Estructuras Patrimoniales de la nueva versión de la norma ISO 13822 sobre Verificación de Estructuras Existentes, en cuya elaboración ha colaborado el autor.Postprint (published version

Dynamic identification and static loading tests of timbrel vaults: application to a Modernist 20th century heritage structure

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in International Journal of Architectural Heritage on 2017, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15583058.2016.1277566This paper presents the study of the structural performance of a set of timbrel vaults belonging to the so-called Administration Pavilion of the Hospital de Sant Pau, a large-scale hospital complex located in Barcelona. The paper includes three parts. First, the Administration pavilion of Hospital de Sant Pau is described by putting the emphasis on the geometry of the masonry vaults and the combined utilisation of steel and masonry structural members. Second, laboratory and in-situ experiments are discussed. Finally, the behaviour observed during the dynamic-identification and the static-loading tests is simulated by means of FEM analysis. The FEM models prepared to analyse the vaults take explicitly into account the direct effect of secondary masonry structural elements, such as the upper slab and the extrados stiffening diaphragms. The comparison indicates that the consideration of these structural elements is essential for an adequate FEM simulation of both the dynamic and the static behaviour of the timbrel vaults.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Seismic vulnerability assessment method for vernacular architecture considering uncertainty

Built vernacular heritage embraces buildings that are not designed by specialists, but are part of a process that involves many people over many generations and relies on empirical knowledge. Its value as a key-element for cultural identity is unquestionable. However, precisely due to its empirical and traditional nature, it is often seen as an obsolete and unsafe way of construction, which leads to its progressive abandonment. This lack of proper construction details and poor maintenance increases the seismic vulnerability of the vernacular heritage. There is an evident need for simplified easy-to-use seismic vulnerability assessment methods for vernacular architecture, given the generalized lack of resources that can be normally assigned to its study and preservation. Most of the times, visual inspection will be the only tool available to carry out the assessment.Postprint (published version

Kinematic approach for seismic vulnerability assessment of masonry churches

The application of reliable predictive methods for the seismic vulnerability assessment of historical buildings represents a challenging issue in the process of risk mitigation at regional/national scale, in order to undertake appropriate strategies aimed at achieving acceptable safety levels. For the application of such policies, the availability of adequate procedures for the correct evaluation of the seismic risk of specific assets, like churches, is a fundamental topic of investigation. In this paper, a simple procedure based on the linear and non-linear kinematic approach is applied to evaluate the seismic capacity of masonry churches, both in terms of spectral acceleration and spectral displacement. To check the reliability of such a procedure, the obtained results have been compared with the damage scenario observed on a population of churches analysed by the research group in the aftermath of the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake.Postprint (published version

Investigation on the seismic response of a large monumental complex

Historical masonry structures are characterised by a high level of seismic vulnerability, as demonstrated by recent and past seismic events. Monumental buildings, in particular, represent a very challenging topic. Their morphological evolution, characterised by transformations, aggregations and modifications developed over the centuries, have given rise to very complex structures that should be considered as structural aggregates rather than single buildings. The present paper briefly summarises the assessment of the structural performance of the monumental complex of the Certosa di Calci (Italy), by applying an in-depth multi-level and multi-disciplinary approach. The morphological evolution of the aggregate was studied by means of critical historical analysis enabling the identification of the structural units composing it. The complex was, besides, subjected to in-situ survey campaigns allowing an adequate knowledge level. Reliable FEM models were elaborated, and non-linear static pushover analyses were performed. The single structural units were initially studied as isolated buildings and then combined evaluating the influence of the in-aggregate behaviour on the overall structural response. Pushover analyses were performed for each evolution configuration, allowing results in terms of capacity curves, load factors and damage distribution. The methodology presented, although used for a specific case study, can be extended to other constructions characterised by similar complexity and features.Postprint (published version