Seismic performance-based assessment of urban cultural heritage assets through different macroelement approaches

Abstract This paper aims at providing an insightful comparison between three of the most widely used commercially available macroelement models for assessing the global seismic performance of existing masonry structures: the equivalent frame model of 3Muri®, and the two- and three-dimensional discrete macroelements available in 3D-Macro®. To this aim, a stone masonry building, representative of the Urban Cultural Heritage (UCH) typology of the Azores archipelago (in Portugal), was considered as a case study. Firstly, sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the impact of a few modelling aspects on the seismic performance of the case study building, and ultimately to define the reference model. Secondly, this reference model was analysed both linearly and nonlinearly. Finally, the seismic performance was evaluated by applying the N2 Method. With this comparative study, the authors aim at discussing, from the user viewpoint, the features that these software codes and corresponding macroelement models have in common and those where they most diverge, as well as their main advantages and drawbacks. Results demonstrate that these models should be applied to UCH assets with due diligence, bearing in mind both the particularities of the case study as well as features and limitations associated with the chosen modelling strategy and software.

[1]  Paulo B. Lourenço,et al.  Possibilities and comparison of structural component models for the seismic assessment of modern unreinforced masonry buildings , 2011 .

[2]  Serena Cattari,et al.  Post-earthquake Damage Simulation of Two Colonial Unreinforced Clay Brick Masonry Buildings Using the Equivalent Frame Approach , 2019, Structures.

[3]  Serena Cattari,et al.  PERPETUATE Project: The Proposal of a Performance-Based Approach to Earthquake Protection of Cultural Heritage , 2010 .

[4]  Michael C. Griffith,et al.  Applicability of nonlinear static procedures for low-rise unreinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms , 2017 .

[5]  Paulo B. Lourenço,et al.  Numerical and Experimental Validation of a 3D Macro-Model for the In-Plane and Out-Of-Plane Behavior of Unreinforced Masonry Walls , 2017 .

[6]  Serena Cattari,et al.  Fragility curves for old masonry building types in Lisbon , 2015, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering.

[7]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  New Frontiers on Seismic Modeling of Masonry Structures , 2017, Front. Built Environ..

[8]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  Non-linear modeling of masonry churches through a discrete macro-element approach , 2017 .

[9]  Enrico Quagliarini,et al.  Uses and limits of the Equivalent Frame Model on existing unreinforced masonry buildings for assessing their seismic risk: A review , 2017 .

[10]  Dina D'Ayala,et al.  Assessing the seismic vulnerability of masonry buildings , 2013 .

[11]  Andrea Vignoli,et al.  Comparative analysis on the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms , 2014 .

[12]  Luca Pelà,et al.  Numerical investigation of non-linear equivalent-frame models for regular masonry walls , 2018, Engineering Structures.

[13]  João Manuel Carvalho Estevão,et al.  The seismic performance of stone masonry buildings in Faial island and the relevance of implementing effective seismic strengthening policies , 2017 .

[14]  Andrea Vignoli,et al.  The seismic performance-based assessment of a masonry building enclosed in aggregate in Faro (Portugal) by means of a new target structural unit approach , 2019 .

[15]  C. Casapulla,et al.  Seismic safety assessment of a masonry building according to Italian Guidelines on Cultural Heritage: simplified mechanical-based approach and pushover analysis , 2018, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering.

[16]  Aníbal Costa,et al.  Experimental characterization of the out-of-plane performance of regular stone masonry walls, including test setups and axial load influence , 2015, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering.

[17]  Enrico Spacone,et al.  Advanced frame element for seismic analysis of masonry structures: model formulation and validation , 2015 .

[18]  Aníbal Costa,et al.  Calibration and application of a continuum damage model on the simulation of stone masonry structures: Gondar church as a case study , 2012, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering.

[19]  K. Lang Seismic vulnerability of existing buildings , 2002 .

[20]  Paulo B. Lourenço,et al.  Unreinforced and confined masonry buildings in seismic regions: Validation of macro-element models and cost analysis , 2014 .

[21]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  Multi-Directional Seismic Assessment of Historical Masonry Buildings by Means of Macro-Element Modelling: Application to a Building Damaged during the L’Aquila Earthquake (Italy) , 2017 .

[22]  T. Ferreira,et al.  A critical discussion on the earthquake risk mitigation of urban cultural heritage assets , 2018 .

[23]  Serena Cattari,et al.  TREMURI program: An equivalent frame model for the nonlinear seismic analysis of masonry buildings , 2013 .

[24]  Aníbal Costa,et al.  Strengthening of Structures Damaged by the Azores Earthquake of 1988 , 2006 .

[25]  P. Lourenço,et al.  Modeling and vulnerability of historical city centers in seismic areas: a case study in Lisbon , 2004 .

[26]  Guido Magenes,et al.  DEVELOPMENT OF SEISMIC VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS , 2006 .

[27]  Andrea Penna Tools and Strategies for the Performance-Based Seismic Assessment of Masonry Buildings , 2011 .

[28]  A. Penna Seismic assessment of existing and strengthened stone-masonry buildings: critical issues and possible strategies , 2015, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering.

[29]  Aníbal Costa,et al.  Efficiency of strengthening techniques assessed for existing masonry buildings , 2015 .

[30]  Aníbal Costa,et al.  Determination of mechanical properties of traditional masonry walls in dwellings of Faial Island, Azores , 2002 .

[31]  Rita Bento,et al.  Seismic performance-based assessment of “Gaioleiro” buildings , 2014 .

[32]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  A Simplified Model for the Evaluation of the Seismic Behaviour of Masonry Buildings , 2005 .

[33]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  Numerical Macro-Modeling of Unreinforced Masonry Structures: A Critical Appraisal , 2015 .

[34]  Sergio Lagomarsino,et al.  A nonlinear macroelement model for the seismic analysis of masonry buildings , 2014 .

[35]  Federico M. Mazzolani,et al.  Numerical calibration of an easy method for seismic behaviour assessment on large scale of masonry building aggregates , 2015, Adv. Eng. Softw..

[36]  Humberto Varum,et al.  Seismic vulnerability assessment of historical masonry structural systems , 2014 .

[37]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  A DISCRETE ELEMENT APPROACH FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE SEISMIC RESPONSE OF MASONRY BUILDINGS , 2008 .

[38]  Serena Cattari,et al.  Seismic Performance of Historical Masonry Structures Through Pushover and Nonlinear Dynamic Analyses , 2015 .

[39]  Bartolomeo Pantò,et al.  A new discrete element model for the evaluation of the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry buildings , 2012 .

[40]  Tiago Miguel Ferreira,et al.  Analysis of the impact of large scale seismic retrofitting strategies through the application of a vulnerability-based approach on traditional masonry buildings , 2017, Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration.

[41]  B. Pantò,et al.  Seismic Vulnerability of Historical Masonry Aggregate Buildings in Oriental Sicily , 2018, International Journal of Architectural Heritage.