Long-term damage typically occurs in historic masonry towers, and probably was the main reason why a very small sample survived of the huge stock of towers that characterised the skyline of the medieval towns. Interventions are documented during the last few centuries to prevent incipient collapses, and the most drastic remedy was the preventive demolition of upper parts of unsafe towers; nevertheless, sudden collapses were still recorded in recent years, not only in the most famous case of the Pavia Cathedral Bell Tower. The lack of reliable tools to forecast how visible damages will develop into collapses makes the threat to survival of monuments and public safety very insidious, forcing the adoption of any possible preventive measure, comprising monitoring and strengthening. The problem is illustrated through two case studies that well represent the general aspect of the problem. Interventions are documented during the last few centuries to prevent incipient collapses, and the most drastic remedy was the preventive demolition of upper parts of unsafe towers; nevertheless, sudden collapses were still recorded in recent years, not only in the most famous case of the Pavia Cathedral Bell Tower. The lack of reliable tools to forecast how visible damages will develop into collapses makes the threat to survival of monuments and public safety very insidious, forcing the adoption of any possible preventive measure, comprising monitoring and strengthening. The problem is illustrated through two case studies that well represent the general aspect of the problem.

Long-term damage on masonry towers: case studies and intervention strategies

VALLUZZI, MARIA ROSA;GARBIN, ENRICO;DA PORTO, FRANCESCA;MODENA, CLAUDIO
2005

Abstract

Long-term damage typically occurs in historic masonry towers, and probably was the main reason why a very small sample survived of the huge stock of towers that characterised the skyline of the medieval towns. Interventions are documented during the last few centuries to prevent incipient collapses, and the most drastic remedy was the preventive demolition of upper parts of unsafe towers; nevertheless, sudden collapses were still recorded in recent years, not only in the most famous case of the Pavia Cathedral Bell Tower. The lack of reliable tools to forecast how visible damages will develop into collapses makes the threat to survival of monuments and public safety very insidious, forcing the adoption of any possible preventive measure, comprising monitoring and strengthening. The problem is illustrated through two case studies that well represent the general aspect of the problem. Interventions are documented during the last few centuries to prevent incipient collapses, and the most drastic remedy was the preventive demolition of upper parts of unsafe towers; nevertheless, sudden collapses were still recorded in recent years, not only in the most famous case of the Pavia Cathedral Bell Tower. The lack of reliable tools to forecast how visible damages will develop into collapses makes the threat to survival of monuments and public safety very insidious, forcing the adoption of any possible preventive measure, comprising monitoring and strengthening. The problem is illustrated through two case studies that well represent the general aspect of the problem.
2005
XI International Conference on Fracture
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2439391
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact