Finite Element Modelling for seismic assessment of existing masonry churches - Part II local analyses

In this paper the results of local seismic analyses regarding architectural portions of existing masonry churches are illustrated and commented. The architectural portions (macro-elements) belong to two different case studies, two existing masonry churches located in Italy and Romania, whose global responses are studied and illustrated in a companion paper. To this scope, kinematic and non-linear pushover Finite Element Modelling (FEM) analyses are conducted, in order to evaluate the influence of the main parameters governing the seismic response. Moreover, the results obtained are compared, in order to illustrate differences and similarities among the two churches examined in this study. Finally, in this research also some structural intervention is taken into account, in order to quantify the reduction of the seismic vulnerability of the local portions considered. A discussion on how the interventions chosen may also modify the global response is made, too.