Seismic vulnerability of ancient stone arches by using a numerical model based on the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics method.pdfVIP

Engineering Structures 119 (2016) 110–121 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Engineering Structures journal homepage: /locate/engstruct Seismic vulnerability of ancient stone arches by using a numerical model based on the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics method Giovanni Lancioni ?, Davide Gentilucci, Enrico Quagliarini, Stefano Lenci Department of Civil and Building Engineering, and Architecture, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy article info Article history: Received 25 November 2015 Revised 22 March 2016 Accepted 5 April 2016 Available online 23 April 2016 Keywords: Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics Historical stone structures Dynamics of arches Seismic vulnerability abstract The dynamics of two Roman stone arches has been studied by means of the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics method (NSCD), implementing a discrete element numerical model in the LMGC90 code. Schematized as a system of rigid blocks, undergoing frictional sliding and plastic impacts, the arches have exhibited a complex dynamics, because of the geometrical non-linearity and the non-smooth nature of the contact laws. First, harmonic oscillations have been applied to the basement of the arches, and a systematic parametric study has been conducted, aimed at correlating the system vulnerability to the values of amplitude and frequency of the assigned excitation. In addition, numerical analyses have been done to highlight the effects of the friction coef?cient and of the blocks geometry on the dynamics, and, in particular, on the collapse modes. Then, the study of the arches stability against seismic excitations has been addressed, and three-dimensional simulations have been performed. Attention has been payed to the occurrence of out-of-plane overturning mechanisms induced by possible bending of the arches. The numerical results have suggested some structural retro?tting actions needed to improve the arches seismic safety. ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Intr