Numerical evaluation of the seismic response of the Fossanova cathedral based on experimental dynamic identification

摘要

The ongoing research activity carried out to characterize the seismic response of the Fossanova cathedral, which is one of the most important minor gothic style churches built in Italy in the XII century, is presented in the current paper. In spite of being located in Priverno (Latina), which is a moderate seismic region, the Fossanova church can represent the dynamic features of several gothic cathedrals located in the Mediterranean area and characterized by medium-high seismic hazard. The investigation combines a set of integrated activities, including the dynamic experimental characterization by ambient vibration measurements and the numerical analysis of the masonry structure by means of detailed FEM modeling. In this paper preliminary results are presented regarding the application of modal matching to the calibration of a FEM model of the church. In addition, the seismic performance analysis of the most vulnerable part of the church (central bays of the cathedral) is carried out aiming at determining the peak ground acceleration associated to significant structural damages. The study referred is part of a more exhaustive research aimed at evaluating the seismic behavior and vulnerability of the "gothic church" of the Mediterranean basin regions.