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The structural assessment of historical buildings is a complex and articulated problem based on different activities. This paper describes the different phases of an integrated approach to obtain an accurate knowledge of the structural damage and seismic performance of two masonry Baroque churches located in Northern Italy and hit by the 2012 Emilia earthquake. The activities involved historical research, laser scanning survey, diagnostic investigation and structural analysis. The historical research, based on the analysis of written documents and historical maps, aimed at understanding previous structural problems and major changes in the structure over the centuries. The geometrical survey of the churches was performed by means of a laser scanner technique in order to very precisely determine the geometry of the two churches. Experimental tests and visual inspections allowed identifying location and extent of cracks, construction techniques, presence of voids and defects in structural masonry walls, as well as some characteristics of masonry. Based on this information, detailed three-dimensional finite element models of the two churches were developed and non-linear dynamic analyses were performed. The numerical simulations led to the determination of damage distribution and the identification of the most vulnerable elements, highlighting the main structural deficiencies of the churches when subjected to different levels of seismic actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architectural heritage was severely damaged by the seismic sequence that occurred in Emilia (Northern Italy) in May 2012. This paper investigates the seismic behavior of three masonry churches that were damaged by the 2012 Emilia earthquake. The analyzed churches are located in the South-East area of the province of Mantua: they are representative of some churches, denoted as 'Matildic churches', belonging to the territorial area between Lombardia, Emilia Romagna and Toscana and built during the Matilde di Canossa domain, between the X and the XI centuries. The study was based on detailed field surveys, in situ tests, visual inspections and existing archives in order to obtain an accurate knowledge of the churches and a proper evaluation of the damage caused by the earthquake. Then, detailed finite element models of the churches were developed and non-linear dynamic analyses with different peak ground accelerations were performed. The numerical simulations provided a deep insight into the seismic behavior of the analyzed churches, identifying the damage patterns and the main collapse mechanisms for different seismic intensity levels. The obtained results appear to be in a good agreement with the damage experienced by the churches during the earthquake. This study can be considered as a first step to assess the seismic vulnerability of the 'Matildic churches', extremely important for their historical and architectural value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]