Seismic safety of basilica churches: analysis of ten case studies

n this paper the behaviour of masonry church buildings under seismic actions is examined anddiscussed. For this purpose, ten basilica churches are analyzed through a “two steps” procedure. In the first stepeach building is analyzed in the linear range with 3D finite element models, in order to determine the static anddynamic properties. Subsequently the complex 3D structure is decomposed in its constituting macro-elements,and each macro-element is analyzed in the non-linear range up to collapse in order to determine its horizontalcapacity. The results of the first step (strength demand) and second step (strength capacity) are then comparedwith the purpose of assessing the level of safety/vulnerability of the global structures and of each macro-element.