Damage Analysis of an Early 20th Century Masonry Church Due to Soil Settlement

The case presented in this study concerns a building that has just passed through its first century of life, it is the parish church of San Bernardino in Sesto Calende in the province of Varese (Italy), where the Ticino river forms at the end of Lake Maggiore. The Church was built in 1905 following the demolition of the ancient church dating back to the XV century, due to serious cracks attributed to strong soil settlements. The objective of this study concerning the new Church is to determine and analyze the causes that led to the current damage situation after only 100 years, verifying the static safety conditions. The results of the analysis can be used to assess the foundations. An integrated approach was adopted, combining visual observation with structural calculation using the Limit Analysis method. The results obtained are the result of a process that has involved and correlated various disciplines including historical research, architectural representation, geological analysis and engineering analysis, all necessary in order to understand the complexity that distinguishes architectural heritage.