Multilevel approach to the vulnerability analysis of historic buildings in seismic areas, Part 1: Detection of parameters for vulnerability analysis through on site and laboratory investigations

A methodology of investigation and diagnosis of the built patrimony of historic centres in seismic areas of Italy is proposed by the authors; the aim is to collect an extensive knowledge on the structural typologies and behaviour of historic masonry buildings for the prevention and/or repair of damages caused by earthquakes. The results of the investigation also allowed a critical review of the reliability of the analytical models and of the effectiveness of the repair techniques, applied in the past decades. The guidelines emerging from the results of an extensive research are presented in part 1 of this paper. A "minimal" investigation program, which can support the designers in their projects and appropriate mathematical models to study the vulnerability of the structures is suggested. A part 2 follows concerning the vulnerability methodology, based on the macro-elements approach and aimed at providing indications for the structural improvement interventions.