Multilevel approach to the vulnerability analysis of historic buildings in seismic areas, Part 2: Analytical interpretation of mechanisms for vulnerability analysis and structural improvement,

A valid approach for the limit analysis of existing masonry buildings in seismic areas concerns the application of single or combined kinematic models involving the equilibrium of structural macro-elements. These can be more reliable in describing the real structural behaviour than common equivalent static procedures, based on the “box” behaviour of the structure and on the elasto-plastic behaviour of the masonry. Based on the results presented in Part 1, which provided a critical review of the reliability of the structural models and of the effectiveness of the repair techniques applied in the past decades, analytical procedures able to interpreter the mechanisms included in the abacus of typical damage are proposed. The main results of the vulnerability analyses carried out on urban centres characterized by different typologies of buildings, suffering different levels of damage, are discussed. Structural assessment is also performed, by simulating intervention proposals in order to evaluate the seismic improvement.