Conservation of historical constructions in seismic area: experimental research on enhancement techniques for masonry buildings

Conservation of CH buildings requires, in the past as today, a deep knowledge of the behaviour of structures and components under deterioration and damage conditions, as well as a suitable experience of the effects of intervention solutions, aimed at enhancing the mechanical performance of the built assets. Seismic hazard constitutes one of the most severe causes of damage and failures for existing structures, particularly for masonry buildings, as they are affected by typical vulnerabilities, due to their constructive systems, degradation of materials, and other specific weaknesses accumulated in the course of time. A proper selection of materials and techniques is required to face and mitigate those critical conditions, and their validation by experimental research is fundamental, in order to quantify the potential improvement, but also to clarify the contexts of possible restrictions in their use. The paper presents and discusses a series of intervention techniques adopted in historical masonry building for seismic improvement. Some significant results of experimental research carried out at the University of Padova, aimed at characterizing the performances of modern and innovative materials applied to traditional and more recent or new techniques are also described.