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Abstract: Three masonry churches collapsed or severely injured during the 20–29 May 2012 earthquakes occurred in Emilia-Romagna, Italy are analyzed in detail from a numerical standpoint. A recently presented standalone 3D limit analysis code is utilized to evaluate failure mechanisms and horizontal acceleration causing the collapse. A comparison with the recent Italian Guidelines devoted to the safety assessment of monumental buildings is also provided. The horizontal acceleration associated to the first active failure mechanism is compared with that actually active during the 20–29 May shakes. A preliminary modal analysis is also conducted to evaluate vibration modes, to compare the numerical limit analysis acceleration with the spectral acceleration kept by the structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of this paper is to develop simple tools for mapping — at regional and local scale — coastal areas exposed at flooding risk. A two-step simplified procedure for coastal management purposes is presented and is applied to Emilia Romagna (Italy), whose low and sandy coast faces the relatively mild Northern Adriatic Sea. The procedure is composed by a 1D conceptual model to determine flooding probability along wide coastal stretches and by a more detailed 2D Level II reliability method, that provides local quantitative statistical maps of inland flooding propagation. Qualitative maps obtained by literature approaches and quantitative results of flooding probability along the littoral show a good agreement. A coastal flood state indicator is proposed to rapidly assess coastal hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]