No abstract

The problem of reducing the seismic risk for art objects, that are the objects generally contained within Museums, is of great interest. The first studies were performed in Japan and were successively organized in a general framework by a research program performed at Southern California University and sponsored by the Getty Museum at Malibu, California. In these papers and in the following Italian studies, the theoretical models for the problem concerning vases and statues are based on the dynamic behavior of rigid blocks and have been deeply developed. Unfortunately, because of the great lack of experimental data, determinant parameters for the problem characterization (like the friction between two superimposed blocks or between the art object and the support plane) are often assumed without reference to real values derived from laboratory tests. This paper presents the results of a research program containing the experimental determination of the friction coefficient between the art object and the support (by means of a testing apparatus on purpose realized) together with dynamic tests performed on simple-shaped objects made of different materials. The dynamic tests were performed using an unidirectional shaking table and different supporting surfaces, so that the influence of different friction coefficients has been analyzed. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Unreinforced masonry is the most diffused construction material in the major part of historical centers in Europe. In a building subjected to earthquake forces the contribution of in-plane shear resistance of the masonry walls is a determinant factor for the stability of the whole structure. In particular, the masonry piers are the structural elements subjected to the combination of normal and shear forces. In general, ductile tools to model the in plane behaviour of masonry are always welcome in order to evaluate the capacity of walls subjected to vertical and horizontal actions. In this framework, two no-tension approaches to model the behaviour of masonry walls loaded with in-plane forces, involving a minimum energy procedure, are presented. Both the procedures allow the representation of the stress maps in the panel in case of monotonic increase of shear load. The results of the numerical analyses are compared and discussed.

No abstract

In civil engineering, Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) dynamic tests are powerful aids