Shaking Table Testing of Models of Historic Buildings and Monuments – IZIIS’ Experience

The cultural-historic heritage is the key element for the history and the identity of society, contributing to its economic and general well-being. Damages caused to historic buildings and monuments by earthquakes that occurred in the past are irreversible and these lost “documents” cannot be retrieved. In providing the protection of these structures in a manner that requires the least intervention and the greatest care to preserve authenticity, the experts are permanently challenged by the fast development and the improved performance of new materials and techniques. However, the implementation of particular strengthening methodology depends on the extent it has been investigated as well as its analytical and experimental verification. This paper presents the most important seismic shaking table investigations of models of historic buildings and monuments carried out in the IZIIS’ Dynamic Testing Laboratory, the main goal of which was assessment of the vulnerability of structures as well as testing and experimental verification of different methodologies for seismic strengthening.