Structural Health Assessment of Historical Buildings via Ambient Vibrations: The SMAV Methodology for “Palazzo delle Laudi” at Sansepolcro (AR)

ABSTRACT

In the present work, the extension of the Seismic Model from Ambient Vibrations (SMAV) to historical masonry buildings is presented. The probabilistic simplified model, which has already been validated for ordinary building, is able to predict their seismic behaviour on the basis of its experimental modal parameters, taking into account the dependence between the resonance frequencies and the vibration amplitude, through a linear-equivalent analysis. The SMAV model is based on the definition of a Structural Serviceability Index (IOPS), expressing the probability of the building to preserve its structural functionality after an earthquake occurrence. As the dynamic parameters are extracted from the vibrations which occur during the normal operating conditions, this methodology is particularly in accordance with the non-invasiveness requirements of monumental buildings, both in terms of service maintaining and structural interventions. The different phases provided for by the methodology and the feasibility of their application to real cases are illustrated with reference to the town hall of Sansepolcro, “Palazzo delle Laudi”, an Italian renaissance building of XIII century.

KEYWORDS:

• Ambient vibrations
• historical buildings
• probabilistic seismic model
• structural health assessment
• structural serviceability index

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.