Seismic performance of strengthened masonry structures: actual behaviour of buildings in Norcia and Campi Alto during the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence

Abstract

The structural response of unreinforced masonry buildings designed for gravity load only or with reference to obsolete seismic provisions is widely studied in the literature in order to define proper strengthening strategies and solution to mitigate the seismic risk. However, the critical analysis of the effectiveness of past used strengthening solution is still lacking. To fill such gap, the present study deals with the evaluation of the seismic performances of buildings in Campi Alto struck by the 2016 central Italy seismic sequence. The behaviour of buildings in Campi Alto is compared with that of buildings in Norcia. A large part of the buildings in these two towns was strengthened between 1980 and 2000 during the reconstruction processes following previous earthquakes which occurred in 1979 and 1997. However, the strengthened buildings in Norcia reported limited damage while a significant and widespread level of damage was detected on several strengthened buildings in the hamlet of Campi Alto. This study focuses on the buildings in Campi Alto with the aim of investigating on the reasons of their unsatisfactory behaviour. Thus, the seismic action experienced by buildings in Norcia and Campi Alto is initially compared and the main vulnerabilities of these buildings are also evaluated. Then, 20 projects of strengthening interventions submitted to the Civil Engineering Department of the Umbria Region between 1984 and 2012 have been herein analysed and discussed in order to focus on the effectiveness of the strengthening solution adopted in the past. The analyses of such projects and of the empirical damage detected after the 2016 seismic sequence is a unique opportunity to derive useful information for future applications.

The Challenge of Integrating Seismic and Energy Retrofitting of Buildings: An Opportunity for Sustainable Materials?

“…Past experiences have demonstrated that piecemeal interventions very often fail to address the complex requirements for safer, more energy-efficient and sustainable existing building stock [16]. Even though this has been the most common approach for retrofitting and remains the most widespread practice in the construction sector, recent extreme events (e.g., the earthquakes in southern Europe such as L'Aquila 2009 [17], Emilia 2012 [18] and Central Italy 2016 [19]) have highlighted its limitations and disadvantages. Collapses after earthquakes or the inadequacy of non-integrated retrofitting interventions showed how greatly they can reduce the effectiveness of the refurbishment, in many cases not allowing for a suitable functionality of the building.…”

Assessments of Masonry Buildings and Historical Structures during the 2020 Sivrice-Elazığ Earthquake

“…7 New earthquake hazard map of Turkey [8] investigated. Sisti et al [36] investigated the response of buildings in Campi Alto which was strengthened in the past 30 years after the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence. According to the visual inspections carried out after the 2016 seismic sequence, they obtained that he behavior of buildings in Campi Alto was not satisfactory.…”