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The dynamic behaviour and the seismic vulnerability of different masonry "Apennine Churches", dramatically damaged by the last shocks sequence of 2016 that occurred in Central Italy, have been studied in this paper by means of advanced 3D numerical analyses with the Discrete Element Method (DEM). Thus, a discontinuous approach has been used to assess the dynamic properties and the vulnerability of the masonry structure, through large deformations regulated by the Signorini's law, concerning the impenetrability between the rigid bodies, and by the Coulomb's law, regarding the dry-friction model. The major purpose of this study is to highlight that relevant data on the real structural behaviour of historical masonry can be provided through advanced numerical analyses. The comparison between the results of the numerical simulation and the survey of the existing crack pattern of the churches permitted to validate the used approach. Finally, from the results and conclusions of these cases study, it is possible to affirm that the used methodology can be applied to a wide variety of historical masonry structure in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an investigation of an ancient aseismic technique developed in Southern Italy. The peculiarity of this technique is the use of a kind of hollow brick called “fictile tubule brick”, which is commonly featured in the historical and cultural heritage of several Mediterranean regions. It has been used by Romans since the 2nd century AD to build vaults and domes. After the enormously disastrous earthquake of Messina and Reggio Calabria in late 1908, a Calabrian engineer named Pasquale Frezza patented an anti-seismic construction system which evolved the traditional technology of casa baraccata. The main purpose of this work is to investigate this construction technology through experimental and numerical tests. First, an experimental campaign is carried out on beams consisting of mortar and fictile tubules to better understand the rate of adherence that exists between these two constituents. Second, diagonal compressive tests are carried out on scale models of walls made with Frezza’s building technique. Eventually, numerical analyses are conducted to validate the results of the experimental tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with modelling and analysis of architectural heritage through the discussion of an illustrative case study: the Medieval Sanctuary of Sant'Agostino (Offida, Italy). Using the finite element technique, a 3D numerical model of the sanctuary is built, and then used to identify the main sources of the damages. The work shows that advanced numerical analyses could offer significant information for the understanding of the causes of existing damage and, more generally, on the seismic vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]