Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors

Many ancient masonry towers are present in Italian territory. In some cases these structures are at risk on account of the intensity of the stresses they are subjected to due to the high level of regional seismicity. In order to preserve this inestimable cultural heritage, a sound safety assessment...

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Main Authors: A. Carpinteri, G. Lacidogna, G. Niccolini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2007-01-01
Series:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/7/251/2007/nhess-7-251-2007.pdf
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author A. Carpinteri
G. Lacidogna
G. Niccolini
author_facet A. Carpinteri
G. Lacidogna
G. Niccolini
author_sort A. Carpinteri
collection DOAJ
description Many ancient masonry towers are present in Italian territory. In some cases these structures are at risk on account of the intensity of the stresses they are subjected to due to the high level of regional seismicity. In order to preserve this inestimable cultural heritage, a sound safety assessment should take into account the evolution of damage phenomena. In this connection, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring can be highly effective. <br><br> This study concerns the structural stability of three medieval towers rising in the centre of Alba, a characteristic town in Piedmont (Italy). During the monitoring period a correlation between peaks of AE activity in the masonry of these towers and regional seismicity was found. Earthquakes always affect structural stability. Besides that, the towers behaved as sensitive earthquake receptors. Here a method to correlate bursts of AE activity in a masonry building and regional seismicity is proposed. In particular, this method permits to identify the premonitory signals that precede a catastrophic event on a structure, since, in most cases, these warning signs can be captured well in advance.
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spelling doaj.art-04e31da0ea2741e5bd56e11d55a92fe42022-12-21T22:28:17ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812007-01-0172251261Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptorsA. CarpinteriG. LacidognaG. NiccoliniMany ancient masonry towers are present in Italian territory. In some cases these structures are at risk on account of the intensity of the stresses they are subjected to due to the high level of regional seismicity. In order to preserve this inestimable cultural heritage, a sound safety assessment should take into account the evolution of damage phenomena. In this connection, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring can be highly effective. <br><br> This study concerns the structural stability of three medieval towers rising in the centre of Alba, a characteristic town in Piedmont (Italy). During the monitoring period a correlation between peaks of AE activity in the masonry of these towers and regional seismicity was found. Earthquakes always affect structural stability. Besides that, the towers behaved as sensitive earthquake receptors. Here a method to correlate bursts of AE activity in a masonry building and regional seismicity is proposed. In particular, this method permits to identify the premonitory signals that precede a catastrophic event on a structure, since, in most cases, these warning signs can be captured well in advance.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/7/251/2007/nhess-7-251-2007.pdf
spellingShingle A. Carpinteri
G. Lacidogna
G. Niccolini
Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
title Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
title_full Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
title_fullStr Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
title_full_unstemmed Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
title_short Acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
title_sort acoustic emission monitoring of medieval towers considered as sensitive earthquake receptors
url http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/7/251/2007/nhess-7-251-2007.pdf
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