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A numerical study on seismic risk assessment of historic masonry towers: a case study in San Gimignano

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Abstract

After a brief introduction on the research project RiSEM (Seismic Risk of Monumental Buildings), the paper discusses on the seismic assessment of historic masonry towers according to the Italian “Guidelines for the assessment and mitigation of the seismic risk of the cultural heritage” that identifies an analysis methodology based on three different levels of evaluation, according to an increased knowledge of the structure. The RiSEM project aimed at developing and testing innovative and expeditious methodologies (i.e. either without or with a minimal direct contact with the masonry building) to evaluate all the main structural features of the monumental buildings required for the assessment of their seismic safety. As a relevant case study the “Town of Fine Towers”, San Gimignano (Italy), listed under the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, was selected. The paper summarizes the analyses performed on one of the San Gimignano towers: the Coppi-Campatelli one. The seismic vulnerability of the tower was evaluated with reference to the above guidelines, and the paper reports and critically compares the results obtained for the three levels of evaluation there defined: LV1 (analysis at territorial level), LV2 (local analysis) and LV3 (global analysis).

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Acknowledgments

The authors kindly acknowledge the Region of Tuscany that financially supported the research (theme PAR FAS 2007–2013—CIPE n°166/2007—line 1.1.a.3: Science and Technology for the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICeA), University of Florence, Via di Santa Marta, 3, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Gianni Bartoli, Michele Betti & Andrea Vignoli

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  1. Gianni Bartoli
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  2. Michele Betti
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  3. Andrea Vignoli
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Correspondence to Michele Betti.

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Bartoli, G., Betti, M. & Vignoli, A. A numerical study on seismic risk assessment of historic masonry towers: a case study in San Gimignano. Bull Earthquake Eng 14, 1475–1518 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-9892-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-9892-9

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