[en] In order to preserve historical buildings and monuments against the effects of earthquakes a detailed analysis is needed to evaluate the characteristics of the seismic input and the dynamic behaviour of structures under seismic actions and to choose the most suitable seismic rehabilitation technique. In this paper the experimental analysis carried out on the Colosseum and the Lateran Obelisk are first shown. Then the application of seismic isolation in historical buildings is discussed and a new structure for the seismic isolation of existing building is presented.

[en] This paper presents and illustrates recent local restoration of Dacians in the upper part of the Constantine's Arch in Rome. The eight statues standing on entablature of columns sixteen meters above ground level are fastened to the main body of the arch by round iron bars driven inside the statue and the arch wall section. During summer 2013 observation from a telescopic truck crane revealed deterioration of connections which appeared rusted and broken. The paper deals with methodology of interventions as well as numerical analysis carried out to establish efficiency of connectors against earthquakes. Results obtained by simple rigid body behaviour and by finite element analysis are presented and discussed.

[en] At the time of L'Aquila earthquake on 6 April 2009, a spontaneous group grown up about researchers on Dynamic interaction of Soil and Structure (DISS), between University of L'Aquila, ENEA, INGV, the Society of Roma Metropolitane s.r.l. and others. One of the most important causes of damage to structures is inaccuracy in estimating earthquake excitation characteristics during the design phase. It is well known that many of the buildings in L'Aquila were built well over a hundred years ago. Hence the earthquake acted upon a variety of structures, some only designed for structural loads whilst others with no structural design at all. It is therefore reasonable to expect that the majority of structures experienced some dame. The soil conditions of the area and the geological formation had a significant effect on the distribution of the structural damage. The information that can be gathered from studies, symposia and workshops on microzonation and dynamic soil-structure interaction will contribute to more accurate estimations of expected ground motion

[en] A preliminary study is shown concerning the interaction between the incoming seismic wave-field and the structure of Colosseum during aftershocks of the 6th April 2009 M 6.3 L'Aquila main-shock. By using mainly Arias intensity, we assess hoe the incoming energy beneath the foundations is convoyed into the monument, through what preferential frequencies such process takes place, how the trapped energy increases the vibration amplitude with floors. Moreover, we also investigate the role played by the near-surface geology in generating differential motions below the monument foundations. In addition we also check, in a preliminary way, the foundation dynamical behaviour under the action of the incoming wave-field.

[en] For the dynamic soil Colosseum interaction, subjected to ambient vibrations, it is proposed a methodology which collects three models used with success in the disciplines Geophysics, Structural and Transportation Engineering. The trains' transit produces the vibrations to identify the map of elastic modules, in elevation by the modal analysis, in the foundations and soil by the diagrams H/V. Finally, this methodology solves the unique problem of the linear elastic behaviour of the monument subjected to different dynamic actions.

[en] By the comparison between tests and analyses, the dynamic characterization was performed, in order to obtain the map of elastic modules for soil Colosseum interaction. The accuracy for foundations and soil is lower than for monument, due ti unknown exact geometry underground. For foundations, a high variability was found of elasticity modules, which was referred to variable damage of concrete for cracking in time. For soil layers, different definitions exist, and we are interested in the best. The vibrations produced by trains are depending on the underground geometry too. The analyses are performed with traditional convoys running on Metro B and C, for the vibrations knowledge on RA XLVII and on ground felt by pedestrians.

[en] In this paper are described the in situ cracking pattern measurement and ambient vibration monitoring for the seismic performance evaluation of the Orvieto Cathedral Italy, according the deplacement based safety assessment. This requires, as a first step, the direct measurement of the cracking pattern and dynamic response of the structural macro elements of the cathedral due to weak vibrations induced by traffic and seismic micro tremors. Seismic assessment for this type of structure require also the proper limit states definitions. In fact, in the case historic monuments like churches, due to the presence of specific typology of macro elements: rigid blocks, complex vault systems, slenderness of the walls, presence of wide halls, domes and drums with particular geometry, is necessary to define the proper assessment procedures which are slightly different with respect those required for conventional civil industrial buildings. Regarding the Ambient vibration monitoring, a new approach to estimate the participating masses associated to the macro element kinematics is defined: it is based on the frequency contribution to the Root Main Square Acceleration, obtained by numerical integration of the Power Spectral Density (PSD) function. This information, when associated to the analysis of the Real and Imaginary part of the Cross Spectral Density (CSD) function between the acceleration time histories at different points, allow to identify the principal (at least first and second) mode shapes of the structure.

[en] 'Villa dei Misteri' is one of the most visited monuments of the archaeological area of Pompeii. It is sited just outside the ancient city and takes its name from the superb frescoes cycle depicting ritual mysteries. The ancient masonry structures, dating from the 2. century B.C. to the Vesuvian eruption, are protected from weathering by modern roofs built in various materials (reinforced concrete, timber, steel). After the collapse, in the fall of 2012, of a decayed timber beam, the Suprintendence decided to carry out, in collaboration with ENEA, a detailed survey of all the covering structures to evaluate its health status and to assess the safety condition of the monument. This paper illustrates the research methodology developed, which is based on a multidisciplinary approach including historical research, geometrical and structural surveys, damage assessment based on both in situ and laboratory diagnostic test, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) remote sensing to inspect area and coverings not easy to reach in safe, and, as basis for seismic safety assessment, ambient vibration measurement to characterize the dynamic response of the soil and of the most relevant structural components of the 'Villa'. The preliminary results of the first stage of the diagnostic campaign are also presented.

[en] The results of ambient vibration surveys of the Cochlid Columns in Rome are shown. The objective of this analysis was the characterization of the dynamic behaviour of the monuments and the comparison with the results obtained with previous similar studies, carried out in the 80th using different instruments and different data analysis methods. The new surveys were performed using two different and independent sets on instruments contemporarily. Data were analysed both in the time and frequency domains. For both the columns the analysis showed the presence of two translational frequencies, quite close one to the other while the previous measurements had pointed out just one resonance, and also higher translational frequencies. A rotational frequency, was also observed. Data analysis pointed out interesting information about dynamic behaviour of the columns.

[en] The second largest bronze Buddha in Japan built in around 1250AD at Kamakura immediately above the focal region of the 1923 Kanto earthquake. Great Buddha of Kamakura has still remained basically its original shape, though it has been suffered several natural disasters as losing its hall. Especially, although the 1703 and 1923 Kanto earthquakes caused settlement and sliding of the basement over 0.3 m., the body has been not suffered serious damage. This statue was casted in order from the bottom with many joints. The joint between the head and the body was noticed because it is reinforced by FRP, Fiber Reinforced Plastic, at the time of the last major repair in 1961. And ingenuity was exercised to fence off the earthquake motion over 400 Gal with sliding the body on the basement, to reduce the load for the neck during earthquake. This is the first example of the earthquake isolation system for cultural properties in Japan. Over 50 years passed after the during earthquake motion, microtremor measurement was conducted. As a result of the primary investigation in 2009, the surrounding ground was estimated that liquefaction was occurred at the front and right sides of the basement and the basement suffered damage as settlement. However, it is considered that the propagation of the earthquake motion for the statue was interrupted because of the liquefaction. Thus, it seems that the damage for the statue itself was prevented because of namely the natural isolation system. Additional y in 2013 microtremor of the statue itself was measured for making clear the connection status between the body and the head.