Testing and modelling of dynamic out-of-plane behaviour of the historic masonry façade of Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy

A programme of structural assessment and control is currently in progress at Palazzo Ducale in Venice, to evaluate the state of preservation of the two external Medieval façades. A long-term monitoring system of mono-directional accelerometers was set up to investigate the dynamic out-of-plane behaviour of the south façade along a vertical section. A type of action that could be taken as ordinary, involving frequencies in the range of 60–80 Hz, was identified during the first months of activity; the response to this kind of dynamic stress allowed a reliable evaluation of the dissipation properties of the structure. As well, the response to an extraordinary-type event, i.e. an earthquake, could be measured during the monitoring period. The first numeric elaborations based on experimental data are presented, i.e. a first calibration of the model of the south façade, aimed to establish the boundary conditions of the model (i.e. translational stiffness of connections to roof and floor structures), by means of spectral analysis with input experimental response spectrum. The good performance of this preliminary numerical model could finally be assessed.

► Measured amplitudes of ordinary dynamic actions are in the order of 10−2 m/s2.
► Calculated frequencies are in the range of 60–70 Hz.
► The actual conditions at façade’s top–bottom boundary are unknown.
► The FEA indicates a very stiff condition.
► The FE model can reproduce the actual dynamic performance of the controlled zone.