Seismic Retrofitting of Historic Masonry Structures with the Use of Base Isolation—Modeling and Analysis Aspects

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe seismic retrofitting measures which are appropriate for buildings belonging to the architectural heritage are limited, since the extent to which such buildings are allowed to be altered is severely limited. In the paper the possibilities which exist for the implementation of base isolation in the case of the seismic upgrade of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures belonging to the valuable architectural heritage have been investigated. A new methodology for the modeling of URM buildings, based on an equivalent frame model with plastic hinges, was used for this purpose. A case study involving a typical neo‐renaissance masonry building is presented, in which base isolation is implemented, and a comparison is made with the response of the building in its original state. A refined approach for the selection of proper isolation devices is proposed which is based on the nonlinear static (pushover) analysis of such buildings and on the desired level of seismic protection, with reference to the code-based damage limit states. Additionally, the incremental nonlinear dynamic analyses were also applied in order to estimate what increases in seismic safety could be achieved if the employed base isolation system was used in the case of different seismic intensities.