Abstract
The present research aims to estimate the influence of site amplification on the seismic vulnerability of the historical centre of the municipality of Baranello in the Molise Region of Italy. Firstly, a structural and typological characterization of the investigated area has been done according to the EMS-98 scale. Subsequently, the vulnerability assessment of the historical buildings located there has been carried out through an appropriate survey form in order to identify the buildings which are most susceptible to seismic damage. To this purpose, the seismic event occurring in October of 2002 has been selected as a reference earthquake. Moreover, according to the AeDES form implemented by the Italian Civil Protection Department to evaluate the usability of constructions after seismic events, the calibration of the typological vulnerability curves of the built-up area has been done, and a quantitative assessment of the local seismic response has been achieved, based on the seismic motions recorded after the 2002 Molise earthquake. Finally, the local amplification factor, which negatively influences the severity of the seismic damage on the structures, has been taken into account in order to more correctly foresee the expected damage of the inspected urban sector, so as to use more appropriately the achieved results for reliable seismic risk mitigation plans.
Highlights
The recent tragic earthquakes which have occurred in Italy during the last decades are a living testimony of the bad seismic behaviour of the historical centres of many municipalities
The seismic vulnerability assessment of an urban environment is devoted to estimating the capacity of the built-up area to withstand without failures a series of seismic events, which are responsible for huge economic losses and casualties
The data collected through the CARTIS form has allowed, through statistical elaborations, to provide indications on the constructive age, number of storeys, average surface area and wall type of the sample of buildings surveyed within the municipality examined
Summary
The recent tragic earthquakes which have occurred in Italy during the last decades are a living testimony of the bad seismic behaviour of the historical centres of many municipalities This is due to a series of hazardous factors, such as the age of buildings, the poor quality of materials and the insufficient maintenance of constructions, which lead towards the high seismic vulnerability of several built-up areas. The evaluation of the geological effects has been taken into consideration in the framework of risk assessment in order to have a better and correct forecast of the expected damage [15] In this circumstance, the soil layers amplify or reduce the seismic waves on the crustal surface. Specific geological, geomorphologic and geo-structural settings of restricted areas can induce a high level of shaking on the ground surface even in occasions of low-intensity/magnitude earthquakes This effect is called site or local amplification. Damage scenarios expected under different earthquake moment magnitudes and site–source distances
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
