Search

In this study, the Civic Tower of Accumoli and the Palazzo of Podestà, damaged by the Central Italy earthquake, are examined. The main goal is to understand the damage evolution during the 2016 seismic sequence. To this end, two modeling strategies, one continuous and one discontinuous, were used. The numerical models have undergone non-linear dynamic analysis considering the three main tremors recorded close to the village. The non-linear masonry behavior was simulated by the concrete damage plasticity model (CDP) in the continuous model and by the non-smooth contact dynamics (NSCD) and the discrete element (DE) method in the discontinuous approach. The results show that all the techniques identify the same vulnerable points. However, only the discontinuous ones permit us to precisely track the cracks that appeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper has been reported the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics method (NSCD) used for the damage evaluation of the multiple leaf masonry walls of the medieval fortress of Arquata del Tronto, strongly affected by the last Centre Italy earthquakes of August and October 2016. Pursuing this approach, a system of rigid blocks has been used for the assembly of the masonry structure. By means of contacts between blocks, which are governed by the Signorini's impenetrability condition and by dry-friction Coulomb's law, the building exhibits discontinuous dynamics. Finally, the NSCD method has proved to be an effective instrument for investigating the dynamical behavior of the masonry structures under the ground seismic accelerations. Indeed, several possible failure mechanisms have been confirmed through the numerical results, which have given a deep insight into the seismic vulnerability of this damaged medieval fortress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]