Assessment and reduction of seismic vulnerability of art objects: Fid-Bau Portal

Assessment and reduction of seismic vulnerability of art objects

Favaretto, Tommaso

This dissertation deals with the assessment and reduction of seismic vulnerability of art objects, which is a issue of crucial interest at the moment. A proposal of extension of the methodology, applied in the current Italian guidelines for the assessment and mitigation of seismic vulnerability of masonry buildings, belonging to the cultural heritage, is presented in this work. Particular attention is given to the assessment part and description of proper mechanical models for the definition of the dynamic behavior of art objects, such as big statues and small artifacts: rigid body models known from literature are presented and generalized, also including the non traditional aspects of non symmetry of the body and presence of vertical action. The proposed method is practically applied to the case of study of Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, with attention to the Sala dell’Ottocento, for small artifacts, and to Galleria dei Prigioni, for big statues. On the other hand great importance is given to the mitigation part, with different proposals for reducing the seismic vulnerability: both with quick and low impact solutions and with the introduction of seismic isolation devices. In particular a proposal for an innovative isolation device specifically designed for this application, is presented. The opportunity and advantages of application of this device is investigated with a series of experimental tests carried out at the SRMD facility in San Diego, aimed to study the dynamic response of a system which simulates a sculpture isolated by means of re designed Double Concave Surface Sliders. The samples used in these experimental tests are designed in order to fit the Michelangelo’s sculptures of the Prigioni and the San Matteo. Finally numerical simulations for evaluating the possible benefits of the application of such devices are presented.