Finite Element Modelling for seismic assessment of existing masonry churches - Part I: global analyses

To date, seismic vulnerability and risk assessment of cultural heritage is a very discussed topic. Particular attention is paid to existing masonry churches, constructions having relevant dimensions and realized with traditional techniques based on empirical rules. As demonstrated by the last earthquakes, these constructions are very vulnerable with respect to the seismic lateral actions, even if of moderate magnitude. For this reason, numerical simulations on existing masonry churches have become essential in order to properly predict their seismic response, even if highly challenging because of the complexity of the construction details and involved materials. Among these, the Finite Element Modelling represents a valid tool, allowing to obtain realistic computational solutions with respect to different seismic scenarios. This paper aims at investigating the global seismic behavior of two existing masonry churches located in Italy and in Romania. Non-linear dynamic analyses are performed by means of 3D FEM models, with the aim of investigating the influence of the ground motion vertical component in the global non-linear response of the churches considered. The numerical results are illustrated and commented, highlighting the differences between the results obtained without and with the ground motion vertical component. In a companion paper, local seismic analyses are carried out on some architectural portions of the case studies considered.