Tools for the modelling and assessment of the structural behaviour of ancient constructions. NOSA ITACA Code

Purpose of the project

  • To develop a numerical tool the NOSA ITACA code, for the structural analysis of masonry buildings of historical interest.
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Partners

Mechanics of Materials and Structures Laboratory

Institute of Information Science and Technologies "Alessandro Faedo", ISTI-CNR

Since 1979 the Mechanics of Materials and Structures Laboratory of the ISTI-CNR has been active in basic research and software development in the field of continuum mechanics, with particular focus on structural engineering.

Over the last fifteen years the Laboratory has concentrated mainly on modelling the structural behaviour of masonry constructions of particular historical and architectural interest. This research has led to the development of a constitutive equation for the various types of masonry employed in historic buildings. Such equation views masonries as nonlinear elastic materials with zero tensile strength and infinite or bounded compressive strength. (more details - website)

Research team

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Florence

The research team of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering participating in the project Tools for the modelling and assessment of the structural behaviour of ancient constructions: the NOSA-ITACA code has been involved for many years in modelling the static and dynamic behaviour of masonry buildings. To this aim, it has conducting numerous experimental analyses aimed at assessing and characterising the behaviour of materials only weakly resistant to tension. In this framework a constitutive equation for one-dimensional elements has been studied and implemented in the finite element code MADY for the dynamic analysis of slender masonry structures such as arches, towers and walls subjected to out-of-plane vibrations. The constitutive equations have subsequently been applied to study the stability of masonry pillars subjected to eccentric vertical loads. (more details - website)

Research team