Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower

The seismic assessment of historical masonry bell towers is of significant interest, particularly in Italy, due to their widespread presence and inherent vulnerability given by their slenderness. According to technical codes and standard practice, the seismic evaluation of masonry bell towers can be...

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Main Authors: Corrado Chisari, Mattia Zizi, Angelo Lavino, Salvatore Freda, Gianfranco De Matteis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/22/10604
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author Corrado Chisari
Mattia Zizi
Angelo Lavino
Salvatore Freda
Gianfranco De Matteis
author_facet Corrado Chisari
Mattia Zizi
Angelo Lavino
Salvatore Freda
Gianfranco De Matteis
author_sort Corrado Chisari
collection DOAJ
description The seismic assessment of historical masonry bell towers is of significant interest, particularly in Italy, due to their widespread presence and inherent vulnerability given by their slenderness. According to technical codes and standard practice, the seismic evaluation of masonry bell towers can be conducted using a range of methodologies that vary in their level of detail. This paper presents a case study of a historical masonry bell tower located in the Caserta Province (Italy). Extensive investigative efforts were undertaken to determine the tower’s key geometric and structural characteristics, as well as to document ongoing damage phenomena. The dynamic behavior of the tower was assessed through ambient vibration testing, which enabled the identification of the principal modal shapes and corresponding frequencies, also highlighting peculiar dynamical characteristics caused by the damage conditions. Subsequently, the seismic assessment was carried out using both Level 1 (simplified mechanical) and Level 2 (kinematic limit analysis) methodologies. This assessment helped identify the most probable collapse mechanisms and laid the foundation for employing more advanced methodologies to design necessary retrofitting interventions. The study emphasizes the importance of Level 2 analyses for structures where out-of-plane failure mechanisms are likely due to pre-existing cracking. Both approaches provide less-than-unity acceleration factors, ranging from 0.45 for Level 1 (assuming non-ductile behavior) to 0.59 for Level 2, in this case specifically using the information available about existing cracking pattern.
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spelling doaj-art-070a07be61d8442795a2716a91f5498c2024-11-26T17:49:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-11-0114221060410.3390/app142210604Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell TowerCorrado Chisari0Mattia Zizi1Angelo Lavino2Salvatore Freda3Gianfranco De Matteis4Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, CE, ItalyDepartment of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, CE, ItalyDepartment of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, CE, ItalyDiocesan Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage and Religious Buildings, Diocese of Sessa Aurunca, 81037 Sessa Aurunca, CE, ItalyDepartment of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, CE, ItalyThe seismic assessment of historical masonry bell towers is of significant interest, particularly in Italy, due to their widespread presence and inherent vulnerability given by their slenderness. According to technical codes and standard practice, the seismic evaluation of masonry bell towers can be conducted using a range of methodologies that vary in their level of detail. This paper presents a case study of a historical masonry bell tower located in the Caserta Province (Italy). Extensive investigative efforts were undertaken to determine the tower’s key geometric and structural characteristics, as well as to document ongoing damage phenomena. The dynamic behavior of the tower was assessed through ambient vibration testing, which enabled the identification of the principal modal shapes and corresponding frequencies, also highlighting peculiar dynamical characteristics caused by the damage conditions. Subsequently, the seismic assessment was carried out using both Level 1 (simplified mechanical) and Level 2 (kinematic limit analysis) methodologies. This assessment helped identify the most probable collapse mechanisms and laid the foundation for employing more advanced methodologies to design necessary retrofitting interventions. The study emphasizes the importance of Level 2 analyses for structures where out-of-plane failure mechanisms are likely due to pre-existing cracking. Both approaches provide less-than-unity acceleration factors, ranging from 0.45 for Level 1 (assuming non-ductile behavior) to 0.59 for Level 2, in this case specifically using the information available about existing cracking pattern.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/22/10604ambient vibration testinglimit analysiskinematic approachmaterial testinggeometrical surveycultural heritage
spellingShingle Corrado Chisari
Mattia Zizi
Angelo Lavino
Salvatore Freda
Gianfranco De Matteis
Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower
Applied Sciences
ambient vibration testing
limit analysis
kinematic approach
material testing
geometrical survey
cultural heritage
title Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower
title_full Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower
title_fullStr Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower
title_full_unstemmed Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower
title_short Operational Modal Analysis and Safety Assessment of a Historical Masonry Bell Tower
title_sort operational modal analysis and safety assessment of a historical masonry bell tower
topic ambient vibration testing
limit analysis
kinematic approach
material testing
geometrical survey
cultural heritage
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/22/10604
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AT angelolavino operationalmodalanalysisandsafetyassessmentofahistoricalmasonrybelltower
AT salvatorefreda operationalmodalanalysisandsafetyassessmentofahistoricalmasonrybelltower
AT gianfrancodematteis operationalmodalanalysisandsafetyassessmentofahistoricalmasonrybelltower