> Research Areas _

Masonry analysis

Static (non-linear) analysis of masonry has reached a good level of knowledge among the scientists even if in the professional world the tools are still limited to the equivalent frame approach. The investigation of masonry structures, with special attention to Cultural Heritage, is a major concern as its correct application may guide a less invasive, more sustainable intervention design. Alternative methods to equivalent frame approaches are warmly welcomed to improve the prediction capabilities and, thus, optimize the intervention techniques.
Dynamic analysis can provide a more realistic representation of the response of masonry structures under typical vibration actions (traffic, earthquake, etc.) and, hence, a more correct estimation of its safety level. Dynamic analysis of masonry structures is nowadays still an open issue.
The major concern of the research is to develop a theoretical and numerical model to correctly describe static and dynamic behavior of 2D and 3D masonry elements under any type of static and dynamic actions.

Seismic protection systems

Seismic protection is a very sensitive issue in seismic areas. Innovative solutions are warmly welcomed due to their higher sustainability and efficiency and lower cost. The most advanced solutions are based on passive and active vibration control technologies that are designed and manufactured in order to reduce the vibration enticed by external actions such as wind, earthquake.
Active vibration control technologies are advanced technologies that reduce the vibrations by applying special time-variable active forces. Special attention is given to active mass damper systems, capable of delivering highly efficient, targeted damping and significantly reducing seismic response through adaptive control strategies. Key issues are design and optimization of such systems that need to comply with efficient and correct prediction procedures. The research activity integrates modelling, analysis, and verification tools to design effective protection systems that improve structural safety, performance, and reliability under earthquake loading.

Structural monitoring

A correct estimation of the structural safety level of masonry buildings goes through:

• the detailed knowledge of geometry and mechanical properties of all its components and of its assembly;
• The estimation of the effects induced by frequent and less frequent dynamic actions such as traffic, excavation works, from low to moderate earthquakes, etc..

The present research line is supported by the following experimental devices:

• Georadar Leica C-thrue;
• Data logger by National Instruments 9234;
• Seismic high sensitivity ceramic shear ICP accel PCB393B12;
• Platinum triaxial high sensitivity ceramic shear ICP PCB356B18;
• Piezoelectric strain sensor PCB740B02

And it has two main goals:

1. to model correctly and in detail the masonry texture both at the surface level and along the thickness;
2. to quantify the dynamic effects on masonry buildings.

Soil-structure interactions

The soil-structure interaction denotes the mutual influence between the soil and the structural responses to external actions. The issue is of fundamental importance to govern the static differential settlements provoked for instance by soil deterioration, excavations, changes in the destination of the building, or to predict the dynamic behavior of the buildings under the actions of vibrations travelling in the soil such as traffic and earthquake.
The main interest of the group is to develop a theoretical and numerical model capable to couple building and soil and provide realistic prediction of the settlements and vibrations induced by static and dynamic sources arising in the soil.