Description
In historical masonry structures, and particularly in churches, vaults have a fundamental role in bearing the vertical loads of floors and roofs. However, in past earthquakes they have proved vulnerable, representing a source of fragility for churches and palaces. In addition, the global seismic behaviour of masonry structures is strongly affected by the stiffness of flooring elements (diaphragm effect), which, when sufficient, allows for transfer of horizontal actions to stiffer wall working in-plane.
In this paper, the diaphragm effect of historical masonry vaults under horizontal loads is investigated numerically. A nonlinear Finite Element model of a cross vault is subjected to in-plane shear actions on two supports to evaluate the stiffness degradation following damage during an earthquake. Appropriate and compatible retrofitting actions are also studied to assess their effectiveness in enhancing the seismic response of the vaults. This work is preparatory for future physical testing activities on scaled prototypes to be performed within a broader research project, aimed at the enhancement and exploitation of artistic and cultural heritage.
