Innovative Use of the Stone in Seismic Resistant Architecture

Abstract eng:
A new structural approach allows the use of stone also in seismic areas. It consists in avoiding the weak point of stone’s structural behaviour - the absence of a significant tensile strength - by assembling the elements through discrete monolithic blocks joined together with solution of continuity. Blocks are kept together by the effect of vertical loads resting on the structure or by internal pre-stressing cables. When the structure undergoes relevant horizontal forces (associated to seismic actions), the joints among the stone blocks can freely open, so that a collapse mechanism is turned into a sort of “controlled movement”. The relationship between lateral force and displacement or between moments and rotations presents an elastic-softening behaviour. The structural systems can also be equipped with dissipating elements giving an energy dissipating capacity to the structure. These units can be located at the ends of the cables, overworking the extension of the cables or near the connection between the ashlars, overworking the opening of the joints. The study focuses on the numerical simulation of the response of simple models whose results can be extended to complex structures.

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