The paper presents the result of a study carried out on an urban block placed in the historical centre of Catania. Most of the buildings which compose the block are residential, except the San Giuseppe al Transito church; this last was probably the first to be constructed before the 1669 Etna’s eruption. In fact the studied block, as well as its surroundings, was built extra moenia on the new areas covered by lava just outside the XVI century civic walls. The study realized on this block was finalised to assess the seismic vulnerability of the aggregate and later on to suggest the mitigation criteria. The used methodology started collecting information on the structural relationship among buildings as well as on constructive techniques of each building. Moreover the historical events as well as the evolution and transformation of the buildings and the block were reconstructed. The goal was to highlight all the items which could be correlated to structural response in presence of seismic action both as improvement and weakening; this kind of analysis is the so called “critical survey”, in which, the buildings are examined in such a way to point out all the significant constructive details, both at the scale of single buildings and in their mutual connections. The knowledge collected allows to recognize the possible local damage mechanisms and later on to build a damage scenario for the block object of the study. On the base of the damage scenario, the intervention criteria derive; they take into account both the level of constructive elements by introducing new connections and the level of the building by removing portions or in some cases entire added cells. This step of the research is devoted to identify general strengthening criteria proper to the actual need of the aggregate and to define technical interventions able to guaranty at the same time safety and preservation of the historical masonry structures.
Seismic safety and preservation of historical urban texture: a study case in Catania
INDELICATO, DAVIDE
2008-01-01
Abstract
The paper presents the result of a study carried out on an urban block placed in the historical centre of Catania. Most of the buildings which compose the block are residential, except the San Giuseppe al Transito church; this last was probably the first to be constructed before the 1669 Etna’s eruption. In fact the studied block, as well as its surroundings, was built extra moenia on the new areas covered by lava just outside the XVI century civic walls. The study realized on this block was finalised to assess the seismic vulnerability of the aggregate and later on to suggest the mitigation criteria. The used methodology started collecting information on the structural relationship among buildings as well as on constructive techniques of each building. Moreover the historical events as well as the evolution and transformation of the buildings and the block were reconstructed. The goal was to highlight all the items which could be correlated to structural response in presence of seismic action both as improvement and weakening; this kind of analysis is the so called “critical survey”, in which, the buildings are examined in such a way to point out all the significant constructive details, both at the scale of single buildings and in their mutual connections. The knowledge collected allows to recognize the possible local damage mechanisms and later on to build a damage scenario for the block object of the study. On the base of the damage scenario, the intervention criteria derive; they take into account both the level of constructive elements by introducing new connections and the level of the building by removing portions or in some cases entire added cells. This step of the research is devoted to identify general strengthening criteria proper to the actual need of the aggregate and to define technical interventions able to guaranty at the same time safety and preservation of the historical masonry structures.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.