Analysis and evaluation of the effect of vibrations on historical buildings

Abstract

Continued exposure of human induced vibrations contributes to the degradation of materials and joints, causing the initiation of cracks or the growth of existing ones, such that they may endanger the structure. Loads, which an undamaged structure could safely resist, can be critical if repeated numerous times. This risk is present in various types of historical buildings, and is influenced by changes in vibration magnitude, by the distance from their source, and by the quality of the building’s maintenance. Good maintenance, which includes regular inspections, allows early detection of any emerging damage and its subsequent repair. This article describes the methods and results of the measurement of dynamic response to road traffic and other types of technical seismicity in four historic buildings. The goal of this paper is to present some examples of analysis and evaluation of the effects of such human activity.