Seismic assessment of the Matera cathedral

Abstract

This paper presents the seismic assessment of the Cathedral of Matera, in southern Italy, to determine the capacity of the structure when subjected to earthquakes. This church dates back to the 13th century and is one of the most representative monuments of the Apulian Romanesque architecture. Within the context of the evaluation of the seismic response of the cathedral, modal identification tests were performed in order identify and characterize the main dynamic properties of the structure. The results of these tests were used to develop a representative finite element model, which is able to provide the response to seismic actions. A pushover analysis was performed to characterize the seismic behavior of the structure. The results of the seismic analyses on the cathedral show that its vulnerability is high, being the transversal direction the less stiff and resistant. Elements as the nave and the façade, along with the bell tower, might be the most vulnerable to seismic actions. Additionally, it was observed that components as the trusses of the central nave strongly modify the seismic response and capacity of the structure. Apparently, the structure might not be able to withstand a strong earthquake from the region or might present several damage after one. Hence, it is recommendable to perform further studies about the seismic behavior, especially of the most vulnerable elements.