Pre-diagnostic survey and static monitoring of a historic tower

The paper presents the results of the investigation program currently performed on the bell- tower of the Church Santa Maria del Carrobiolo in Monza, Italy. Preliminary documentary research and systematic visual inspection on site highlighted a weak structural layout of the bell-tower; furthermore, the recent construction of an underground car park in the close neighborhood of the church has triggered the movement of several cracks. During the visual inspection, a prompt dynamic test was also carried out using an industrially engineered microwave interferometer. Subsequently, a static monitoring system was installed in the bell-tower to survey the opening of the main cracks and, more recently, ambient vibration tests were performed with the twofold objective of validating a FE model of the tower and implementing the installation of a continuous dynamic monitoring system.