Vulnerability assessment of monumental artworks using contact time-history analysis

Strategies for the protection of the Cultural Heritage priceless value are highly demanded, being both earthquake and support movement (and a combination of the two of them) severe threats for their safety and integrity. To this scope, computer-based numerical formulations have been representing a powerful tool for the simulation of expected loss in terms of pieces of art damages, with the scope to save them as much as possible. In this framework, the conference paper is devoted to the vulnerability assessment of monumental artworks using dynamic analysis in a rigid block modelling environment. The numerical formulation adopts a discrete rigid block-based model, where the mortar joints contribution is accounted for by frictional, no-tension interfaces between the masonry units. The procedure adopted to solve the formulation is based on a dual variational problem where equilibrium, kinematic and failure conditions equations are involved at the same time, and which is solved via mathematical programming. An application to a system of two blocks vertically stacked, one representing the support and one representing the artefact, subjected to free rocking motion will be proposed in the paper. The main scope is to investigate the seismic response of such a system, which is typical for most of museum's collections (e.g., statues). The computational efficiency and accuracy of the proposed numerical strategy will be discussed.