Generative modelling and seismic assessment of ancient temples: The temple of vesta (Tivoli)

Abstract

This paper proposes an innovative procedure to generate digital models of architectural heritage, assuming the unavailability of geometrical information such as point clouds. The Temple of Vesta in Tivoli is adopted as a case study, whereas the etchings performed by Francesco Piranesi in the XVIII century are used to identify the architectural layout, modules' repetitions etc. Hence, a Generative Program (GP) algorithm is implemented for the temple parametrisation. The geometrical model is imported and treated as a concurrent continuous/block-based model in a Finite Element environment and adopted to perform nonlinear time history simulations. Seven seismic records with two horizontal components are selected and scaled according to the target spectrum of the Italian seismic code at the limit state Safeguard of human life. Simulations are performed considering the structure at its not retrofitted state (i.e. anchorages and steel elements connections are not taken into account). The numerical model underlines how local failure mechanisms of columns and entablature always affect the structure.