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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The church of San Francesco, Lucca

The NOSA-ITACA code has been applied to model the static behaviour of the Church of San Francesco, in Lucca, in the framework of some restoration and strengthening operations funded by the Lucca Savings Bank Foundation.

The church of San Francesco, dating back to the 13th century, is a typical Franciscan masonry building with one nave, about 70 m long, 16 m wide and 19 m high. The nave is closed on the west by the façade overlooking the square of San Francesco and on the east by the apse. The northern wall leans against the portico of the monastery cloister; the southern wall, completely free, runs along the street named via della Quarquonia.

The code allowed evaluating the seismic vulnerability of the building, before and after the strengthening operations. In particular, a metallic framework has been introduced at the roof level and its effect on the building’s stability under horizontal actions numerically evaluated.