Assessment of the Static Behaviour of Heritage Masonry Buildings using Numerical Modelling

The paper aims to offers a contribution to the issue of modelling and analysis of architectural cultural heritage by the discussion of the static behaviour of an illustrative example. The finite element technique has been employed, and an ad hoc nonlinear procedure has been developed to evaluate both the internal stress and the cracking pattern on the building case study. The proposed calibration procedure of the finite element model was performed both on the results of previous in-situ results and on the basis of the damage pattern. The paper show how advanced numerical analyses could provide useful information to evaluate the existing damage. As consequence the understanding of the structural behaviour, jointly with advanced strategies of structural analysis, can both reduce the extent of remedial measures and provide efficient strengthening indications. The paper propose also a procedure for the calibration of the numerical model which normally, due to the difficulty of gathering in-depth experimental tests in heritage buildings, is a crucial and arduous task. The suggestions offered in the paper could be useful both for researchers and practitioners.