The significance of ground movements causing stresses and displacements in monuments and historical sites hardly needs to be emphasized. However, on accounting the dramatic increase of environmental agents, stemming from either human or natural factors, monuments have exhibited a growing sensitivity to geotechnical factors which may lead to abrupt failures. The demand of safeguarding measures is therefore increasing, together with the importance of geotechnical questions in research project, aimed at preserving ancient monuments. As it is documented by the useless - if not actually harmful - results obtained in a number of cases, success may only be achieved by considering the monument, its foundation and the supporting ground as different parts of a unique complex system. Historical transformations which have affected the monument from its origin up to the present, should also be taken into account. The cases analysed are numerous in Italy, and the collected data and material very ample. This is the consequence of the variety and complexity of the Italian monumental heritage, as far as historical epochs, geotechnical situations and questions involving preservation methods are concerned. The Oriental part of Sicily is very rich of monuments and monumental building, but at the same time is the most seismically active areas of Italy. In particular the city of Noto, which is now considered the capital of baroque in Sicily, was destroyed by the 1693 Earthquake and rebuilt in another location, as some others cities . In order to study the geotechnical dynamic characteristics of the foundation soils of monuments, in situ investigations and laboratory have been carried. Among in situ investigations, Borings, SPT, CPT, Down-hole (D-H), cross-hole (C-H) and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Among laboratory tests special attention have being paid to the variation of the non linearity of shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (D) and to its variation with depth, by Resonant Column tests. This paper tries to summarise this information in a comprehensive way in order to provide a representative geotechnical model of ground condition at the different zones where important monuments are located. This enabled the evaluation of site effects to define the earthquake design actions and them the rational restoration and strengthening of some monuments, before their collapse, with the exception of the Noto Cathedral which restored after its partial collapse, due to the 1990 Sicilian earthquake. The rational restorations of the Noto Cathedral and others monument are also reported in the paper.
The Contribute of Geotechnical Engineering to the Safeguard of Historical and Monumental Heritage
Cavallaro A;
2011
Abstract
The significance of ground movements causing stresses and displacements in monuments and historical sites hardly needs to be emphasized. However, on accounting the dramatic increase of environmental agents, stemming from either human or natural factors, monuments have exhibited a growing sensitivity to geotechnical factors which may lead to abrupt failures. The demand of safeguarding measures is therefore increasing, together with the importance of geotechnical questions in research project, aimed at preserving ancient monuments. As it is documented by the useless - if not actually harmful - results obtained in a number of cases, success may only be achieved by considering the monument, its foundation and the supporting ground as different parts of a unique complex system. Historical transformations which have affected the monument from its origin up to the present, should also be taken into account. The cases analysed are numerous in Italy, and the collected data and material very ample. This is the consequence of the variety and complexity of the Italian monumental heritage, as far as historical epochs, geotechnical situations and questions involving preservation methods are concerned. The Oriental part of Sicily is very rich of monuments and monumental building, but at the same time is the most seismically active areas of Italy. In particular the city of Noto, which is now considered the capital of baroque in Sicily, was destroyed by the 1693 Earthquake and rebuilt in another location, as some others cities . In order to study the geotechnical dynamic characteristics of the foundation soils of monuments, in situ investigations and laboratory have been carried. Among in situ investigations, Borings, SPT, CPT, Down-hole (D-H), cross-hole (C-H) and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Among laboratory tests special attention have being paid to the variation of the non linearity of shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (D) and to its variation with depth, by Resonant Column tests. This paper tries to summarise this information in a comprehensive way in order to provide a representative geotechnical model of ground condition at the different zones where important monuments are located. This enabled the evaluation of site effects to define the earthquake design actions and them the rational restoration and strengthening of some monuments, before their collapse, with the exception of the Noto Cathedral which restored after its partial collapse, due to the 1990 Sicilian earthquake. The rational restorations of the Noto Cathedral and others monument are also reported in the paper.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
