PSI - Issue 78

Michele D’Amato et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 1490–1496

1494

2.2. “ Pirro del Balzo ” Castle The seismic response of the historical monumental building of “Pirro del Balzo” Castle (Fig. 4), located in the city of Venosa (Italy) is assessed to identify potential structural vulnerabilities with the aim to support the development of innovative strategies for mitigating seismic effects in cultural heritage buildings. Historical-critical analysis, non-destructive investigations combined with experimental ambient vibration monitoring and numerical simulations based on limit analysis methods are performed to investigate the most probable collapse mechanisms of the case study. The historical- critical analysis of the “Pirro del Balzo” Castle consisted of acquiring and analyzing available documentation from existing technical literature. This analysis revealed that different structural interventions were carried out following the 1980 earthquake, particularly from 1983 to 1996 [Giovannucci (2003), Grazia et al. (2003)]. The planning and execution of non-destructive tests on the masonry structure, consisting of rapid visual screening and inspections, endoscopy investigation and infrared thermography are performed to identify construction materials, structural and non-structural elements, critical areas, such as hidden cracks and moisture in the walls (Fig. 5a). Moreover, ambient vibration tests are carried out for the estimation of the dynamic characteristics, soil-structure interaction and calibration of the numerical model of the Castle. Three velocimetric stations are placed in 9 different locations (ground and floor levels) of the structure. Fig. 5b shows the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) for velocimetric station placed on the top of one of the towers of the Castle, showing a fundamental frequency of about 8 Hz. a b

Fig. 4. “ Pirro del Balzo ” Castle: (a) photographic view (www.portacoeli.it); (b) plan and section views by description of Onofrio Tango, 1635 reported in Grazia et al. (2003).

a

b

Fig. 5. (a) Infrared thermography; (b) velocimetric station on one the tower of “ Pirro del Balzo ” Castle and HVSR.