Application of structural isolation and health monitoringThe ‘Our Lady of Tears Shrine’ in Syracuse (Italy)

Abstract

The paper describes the seismic retrofit (carried out in the period February to March 2006) of the ‘Our Lady of Tears Shrine’ in Syracuse (Italy), made bysubstituting the bearings supporting its impressive dome with sliding seismic isolators equipped with elasto-plastic dissipators. After an accurate description of the construction and of its new antiseismic devices, installed between the dome and its 22 supporting columns, the dome raising and lowering phases, together with the instrumentation and data acquired during the operations, are reported in detail. The improvement of the structural behaviour after the seismic retrofit is demonstrated through the results of a numerical investigation under seismic excitation. Finally, the rehabilitation and reactivation of the pre-existing continuous monitoring system of the temple is examined. The structure has been recently included among those of the Italian network of buildings and bridges permanently monitored by the Italian Department of Civil Protection.

Keywords:

• seismic isolation
• health monitoring
• worship building

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the persons involved in the design and undertaking of the seismic retrofit intervention of the ‘Our Lady of Tears Shrine’. The final design of the intervention, financed by the Sicily Region, was committed by the Church Board ‘Our Lady of Tears Shrine’, and by it from the Town Council of Syracuse, to Prof. Paolo Emilio Pinto and Renato Giannini, together with Eng. Maurizio Valenzi (Director of Works). The supply of the isolators and the daring intervention of the raising of the dome, substitution of the bearings and subsequent lowering of the dome was performed by the Italian firm FIP Industriale S.p.A. (Selvazzano Dentro, PD), which has 30 years of experience in the supply and installation of antiseismic devices.

The authors also thank Boviar s.r.l., in particular its Technical Director Dr Giuseppe Bovio, as well as INDAPRO s.r.l., in particular, its General Director Dr Paolo Pezzoli, which are the companies in charge of upgrading and reactivation of the monitoring system of the ‘Our Lady of Tears Shrine’ and of providing the new acquisition system and software, respectively. The final management and maintenance of the new continuous monitoring system of the Sanctuary will be performed by the National Seismic Service of the Italian Department of Civil Protection within the network ‘Seismic Observatory of Structures’, directed by Eng. Mario Nicoletti, which is also gratefully acknowledged.