Structural assessment of historical buildings by monitoring and numerical methods: The case of Castelvecchio (Verona)

Abstract eng:
In the knowledge-based approaches for the assessment and protection of cultural heritage structures from natural or man-induced risks, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) plays a key role as a tool to assess vulnerabilities and optimize intervention strategies. On the one hand thanks to SHM it is possible to assess the real structural behavior of the examined constructions, identifying “deficiencies” and giving substantial contribution in minimizing the interventions, first of all by avoiding the unnecessary ones. On the other hand when structural interventions are performed, monitoring can be used within a step-by-step approach to assess the response of the structure after each operation (intervention increment) and verify the long-term effectiveness and durability. In parallel SHM data can be exploited to calibrate and validate numerical and analytical models used to predict the structural response to several types of external action with more confidence and reliability. In this framework SHM techniques and methodologies have been recently applied to an emblematic historic structure in the city center of Verona, Italy: the medieval castle of Castelvecchio. It is the most important military construction of the Scaligeri family that ruled the city in the Middle Ages. With the purpose of evaluating the structural response of this building to static, dynamic (e.g. traffic, wind) and seismic loads, a SHM system was installed on two towers of the castle in 2014. Based on inspections and operational modal analysis results, the most suitable positions for static and dynamic sensors were selected. Monitoring data are used to identify possible active damaging processes and to calibrate reference numerical and analytical models, later used for advanced global and local analyses. The final aim is to assess structural vulnerabilities and establish intervention priorities in order to guarantee adequate safety conditions within a general maintenance and conservation plan of the monument.

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