Assessment of structural behaviour and seismic retrofitting for an Italian monumental masonry building

This paper deals with assessment of structural behaviour and seismic retrofitting of Rocca Strozzi, a monumental masonry building located in the Municipality of Campi Bisenzio, near Florence, in Italy. The paper consists of three parts. The first part is dedicated to description of the geometry and state of conservation of the building. The second part presents results of a multi-level approach prescribed by the Italian Code, including finite element analysis, which allowed for the static and seismic capacity of the building to be assessed. The third and last part of the paper illustrates a strengthening design approach aimed at increasing both the load-bearing capacity of some portions and the global seismic capacity of the building. Innovative solutions are proposed to strengthen the chemin de ronde and roof of the main building. The case study highlights that in many cases the strengthening design of an existing monumental masonry building may be successfully developed even if the knowledge of geometry, constructive details and material properties is limited.