High-strength cable systems for the seismic protection of historical domes: a multidisciplinary approach

Seismic retrofitting of historical structures is a complex operation often needed to save their cultural value. This requires background knowledge acquired from several research and application fields. Suitably designed strengthening systems are required that do not adversely affect the nature of the structure itself, in order to efficiently protect cultural heritage buildings against earthquakes. When put into practice, any interventions for cultural heritage conservation should be easy to of install, noninvasive and the reversible. In this work, cable systems made of high-strength materials are proposed for the seismic reinforcement of masonry domes. Because of the significant influence of geometrical factors on the performance of the strengthening system, interventions must take into account the specific characteristics of the building, the stages of its construction, and its current state, which is inherently subject to variations. A cable dome system can also support self-diagnosis and re-tensioning tools in order to facilitate control and maintenance activities. The structural response of the reinforced domes and their capacity to react to horizontal and vertical seismic loads is investigated and assessed through numerical simulations. Finally, a cable dome system is proposed for the relevant case of the Vicoforte Sanctuary, which contains the largest oval masonry dome in the world.