Nicola Chieffo

University of Huddersfield · School of Computing and Engineering

The proposed research work presents a comprehensive approach to assessing the seismic vulnerability of archaeological sites. This approach aims to be a quick and easy-to-use investigation procedure that enables accurate and large-scale evaluations. While the methods employed are well-established in the literature and have been widely applied to bui...

The proposed study focuses on the typological and structural characterization of masonry building aggregates located in the historical centre of Atella, a small town in the district of Potenza in the Basilicata region of Italy. The data regarding building exposure were collected using the CARTIS form in the framework of Working Package 2 “Inventory...

Several probabilistic liquefaction triggering approaches, or liquefaction manifestation severity approaches, have been developed to consider the uncertainties related to liquefaction and its manifestations. Probabilistic approaches are essential for vulnerability and risk models that considers the consequences of liquefaction on building performanc...

The frequency of urban fires has grown in recent years everywhere, especially in historic districts, including in Portugal, due to the existence of sensitive igniting materials, the proximity of buildings, the complex urban layout, and the presence of many people. The current study proposes a technique, applied in the Baixa Pombalina (downtown) are...

The proposed study deals with seismic vulnerability assessment and highlights the importance of evaluating urban vulnerability in historic areas. Focusing on Portugal’s mainland, the case study area is located within the historical part of the Lisbon city council. The main objective of the proposed research is to evaluate the seismic vulnerability...

Seismic events have shown to be exceedingly damaging to structures over time, with serious social and economic consequences. As a result, large-scale seismic risk assessments are essential for reducing the potential damage from future earthquakes. Therefore, the proposed study attempts to examine the vulnerability and risk of unreinforced masonry b...

When two or more hazards occur in the same location or follow each other closely within a short timeframe, the infrastructure and the population can experience more severe consequences compared to when these hazards arise separately or in different locations. This research highlights the significance of accounting for liquefaction when assessing th...

In recent decades the topic of exposure to natural hazards has gained prominence due to the rise in natural and man-made disasters that might particularly damage urban areas. Population growth, urbanization and climate change are just a few of the reasons that have led to an increase in catastrophes, as well as increased community awareness of the...

Seismic events have shown to be exceedingly damaging to structures over time, with serious social and economic consequences. As a result, large-scale seismic risk assessments are essential for reducing the potential damage from future earthquakes. Therefore, the proposed study attempts to examine the vulnerability and risk of unreinforced masonry b...

The significance of dealing with multiple risks has become increasingly clear given the rising frequency of disasters caused by natural and man-made hazards impacting metropolitan areas. The current study focuses on an urban structural compound within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) and the primary goal is to evaluate the vulnerability and risk...

The literature review shows that there is a lack of research on seismic vulnerability assessment in urban centres prone to liquefaction. Therefore, it is essential to formulate simple but robust approaches for seismic evaluation in these urban areas so that decision-makers can improve land use plans. In this sense, this work focuses on the applicat...

This study provides a discussion using a database of historic masonry bell towers struck by past Italian earthquakes, which is the result of an extensive literature review on post-earthquake reconnaissance reports and scientific publications. The observed damage is analysed to give an insight into the seismic behaviour and vulnerability of this pec...

The research attempts to provide a method for evaluating the susceptibility of heritage buildings and potential damage considering local site effects, using as a case study an urban sector situated in Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal. The physical vulnerability of the investigated structures was appraised using an index-based method devised for struc...

In March 2020, the capital of Croatia was hit by two earthquakes of moderate magnitudes. The earthquakes caused high economic losses, due to damage that occurred in the city centre. The city centre is mostly made up of historical masonry structures that have proven to be extremely vulnerable in the case of an earthquake. The paper represents two ap...

The study proposed a seismic vulnerability methodology applied to the historical centre of Castelpoto, located in the province of Benevento (Southern Italy). The seismic vulnerability of the examined aggregates was examined using an index‐based procedure specifically developed for structural masonry compounds. The structural details and specific ch...

In historical centres, it is very difficult to analyse masonry buildings as independent structures since they have common wall panels with adjacent structural units. These types of building compounds interact with each other under seismic actions, so their behaviour differs from that of individual buildings considered isolated structures. In this f...

The European building stock consists of a large number of unreinforced masonry structures. Masonry structures proved themselves to be fragile if subjected to horizontal loads, particularly out-of-plane. The complexity of existing structures during an earthquake increases if they are arranged in aggregates. This research deals with the definition of...

The present research aims to explore the influence of site effects on the seismic vulnerability of the historical centre of Baranello, a little town in the Molise Region of Italy. Structural and typological classification of the investigated urban area has been done according to the EMS-98 scale. The vulnerability assessment of the inspected histor...

The research aims to illustrate a vulnerability approach extended for the aggregate masonry buildings belonging to an urban area of the city of Latronico (Basilicata Region). The area was examined taking into account the predominant building typology according to the investigation line WP2 "Inventory of existing structural typology" of the Italian...

Special Issue aims to encourage the dissemination of ideas and knowledge concerning the assessment and reduction of the seismic vulnerability of existing buildings, favoring interdisciplinary approaches between sustainable architectural and engineering issues.

The current paper aims at investigating the seismic capacity of a masonry building aggregate in the historical centre of Mirandola based on a reliable ground motion simulation procedure. The examined clustered building is composed of eleven structural units (SUs) mutually interconnected to each other, which are made of brick walls and are character...

The current paper aims at analysing the effect of ground motion vertical component in the case of near-field excitations on the structural response of historical masonry buildings. In this perspective, the Banloc Castle in Romania has been considered as a reference case study. This historical masonry structure was damaged by the Banat-Voiteg earthq...

Recent earthquakes have highlighted worldwide the high seismic vulnerability of the structures, particularly the old masonry buildings. The scope of vulnerability analysis is to assess the propensity for seismic damage of buildings. In this perspective, the proposed research aims to estimate the seismic vulnerability of a historical building in a d...

The present research aims at investigating the vibration period of structural units (SUs) of a typical masonry aggregate located in the historical center of Mirandola, a municipality in the province of Modena. The clustered building consists of eighteen SUs mutually interconnected to each other, which are characterized by solid brick walls and defo...

The present paper aims at inspecting the structural behaviour of a typical masonry aggregate located in the historical centre of Cercola, a municipality in the province of Naples. The clustered building under study consists of four structural units mutually connected to each other made of tuff stone and deformable floors. Two distinct structural un...

Background The Municipality of Baranello, located in the province of Campobasso, is considered as a reference case study for implementing a systematic procedure for the assessment of local site effects. The territory is characterised by a heterogeneous soil, made of a basal interval formed in large part by outcrops found along with the middle-basal...

In the present research work, the effect of ground motion vertical components in case of near-field excitations has been analysed. To this aims, the Banloc Castle, an historical masonry building, located in the Region of Banloc in Romania has been analysed. A FEM model of the building, has been setup using DIANA FEA analysis software and investi...

Background Timisoara is one of the most important Romanina cities, located in the Banat area and characterised by shallow earthquakes with high ground motion vertical component. The seismicity of the area, in accordance with the P-100 Romanian Code, is affected by medium-high hazard level with an expected maximum PGA of 0.20 g. From a historical-ar...

The scope of large-scale vulnerability analysis methods is to assess the propensity at seismic damage of building classes over a less or more wide area. In this perspective, the proposed research aims at estimating the seismic vulnerability of historical buildings in a district of Sofia in Bulgaria. First of all, the vulnerability assessment of the...

The present research aims to estimate the influence of site amplification on the seismic vulnerability of the historical centre of the municipality of Baranello in the Molise Region of Italy. Firstly, a structural and typological characterization of the investigated area has been done according to the EMS-98 scale. Subsequently, the vulnerability a...

Recent seismic events produced considerable socio-economic losses. An important step for the reduction and mitigation of seismic risk in urban areas with a high population density is the assessment of global vulnerability of clustered buildings. The proposed work aims at appraising the seismic vulnerability of building aggregates within the histori...

This research aims at studying the effects induced by the seismic sequence occurred in 2016 in the Central Italy. The mainshock recorded, which had a moment magnitude of 6.0, caused substantial damages to several historical centres of different Italian regions. In the paper, the attention is focused on the damage scenario of an urban sector within...

https://www.researchgate.net/deref/https%3A%2F%2Fauthors.elsevier.com%2Fc%2F1YmPW4p6GuC1cK Timisoara is the most important city located in the Banat seismic area, characterized by shallow earthquakes. The city with its many architectural values was declared the European Capital of Culture for 2021. In order to assure both the safety of Timisoara's...

In this framework, the current research work aims to analyse a sub-urban sector of the historic centre of Sant'Antimo, located in the province of Naples (Italy), in order to assess the seismic vulnerability of old masonry buildings in this sector and the expected damage scenarios resulting from seismic events with different characteristics. Moreove...

The seismic risk evaluation of built-up areas is associated to the level of earthquake hazard, building vulnerability and level of exposure. It is well known that the large-scale vulnerability assessment is a very important topic for the protection of historical buildings and the mitigation of effects of natural phenomena on the built-up. In 2020 T...

The large-scale seismic risk assessment is a crucial point for safeguarding people and planning adequate mitigation plans in urban areas. The current research work aims at analysing a sector of the historic centre of Senerchia, located in the province of Avellino, in order to assess the seismic vulnerability and damage of old masonry building compo...

The proposed study aims at analysing a suburban sector in the historic centre of Qualiano, located in the province of Naples (Italy), in order to assess the seismic vulnerability of the main typology classes (masonry and reinforced concrete) in the study area and the consequent expected damage scenarios. The typological and structural characterisat...

Romania is an European country with two major seismic zones, Vrancea and Banat. Timisoara is one of the biggest cities in Romania, located in Banat seismic area, characterized by shallow earthquakes, with depths between 2 and 20 km and important vertical forces. In the historical area of Timisoara there were classified different types of structures...

Timisoara is one of the most important Romanian's city. Located in the Banat region, it is in a very high seismic zone characterized by earthquakes with small depths and magnitudes not exceeding 5.6 on the Richter scale. In 2021 Timisoara will be the Capital of European Culture and, therefore, the numerous buildings with historical-artistic value i...

This paper presents and analysis of seismic vulnerability and risk of building aggregates within the historical centre of Arsita, damaged in April 2009 by the L'Aquila earthquake. The vulnerability analysis has been carried out by comparing two different procedures, the Vulnus Vb 4.0 software developed at the University of Padua, and the macro-elem...

The recent seismic events produced a large number of damages and losses. An important step for the reduction and mitigation of seismic risk at urban scale requires assessment of the physical vulnerability of buildings. The proposed study aims at investigating a suburban sector of the historic centre of Senerchia, a district of Avellino (Italy), in...

Romania is an European country with two major seismic zones, Vrancea and Banat. Timisoara is one of the biggest cities in Romania, located in Banat seismic area, characterized by shallow earthquakes, with depths between 2 and 20 km and important vertical forces. In the historical area of Timisoara there were classified different types of structures...

Romania is an eastern European country, with two major seismic zones, Vrancea and Banat. The most important city located in Banat seismic area, characterized by shallow earthquakes, is Timisoara, a city with many architectural values that was declared European Capital of Culture for 2021. During the activities that will take part starting from 2021...

The seismic risk evaluation of built-up areas is associated to the level of earthquake hazard, building vulnerability and level of exposure. It is well known that the large-scale vulnerability assessment is a very important topic for the protection of historical buildings and the mitigaion of effects of natural phenomena on the built-up. In 2020 Ti...

The current study focuses on a sub-urban sector of the historical centre of Sant’Antimo, placed in the province of Naples (Italy), in order to estimate the expected damage scenario due to earthquakes by using a probabilistic approach. First, aiming at performing an exposure analysis, the typological and structural characterization of buildings with...

This paper aims at assessing the seismic response of a typical residential masonry building located in Mirabello, a district of Ferrara damaged by the earthquake that in 2012 hit the Emilia Romagna Region of Italy. The selected case study is a masonry building representative of the class B typology, namely ordinary masonry buildings equipped with s...

Romania is a European seismic country, with a very interesting history and landscape. Timisoara, located in the western part of the country, is subjected to shallow earthquakes and in the same time, presents valuable historical buildings whose seismic vulnerability is not very well known or assumed. Taking into consideration the fact that Timisoara...

Romania in a country characterised by various seismic zones, with different intensities and different depth events. Timisoara is one of the biggest city of Romania and is located in Banat seismic area, where the shallow earthquakes are specific. The architecture of the city is full of historic masonry beautiful buildings, a lot of them in a dangero...

Introduction The preservation of masonry buildings typical of Italian historical centres represents a very pressing dilemma founded on recovery need of the urban fabric original character. Methods In the paper, based on a speedy methodology developed by some of the authors on building aggregates, the seismic vulnerability quick estimation of some...

In the current paper, the RISK-UE quick method for vulnerability evaluation of an urban sector of Marigliano, a municipality in the district of Naples, has been applied. This paper aims at defining, starting from the seismic vulnerability analysis of the urban area analysed, a method to investigate its urban resilience by developing appropriate beh...

Europe has many buildings made in masonry, with very interesting wooden framework, from different ages. Most of those buildings are still to see, so in order to provide a true history for further generations, is important to assure our heritage. Despite of the complex framework, timber roof may affect or may consolidate masonry structure below, dep...

The earthquake which recently hit the Central Italy refers to a series of seismic events began in August with epicentres located between the Tronto Valley and the Sibillini Mountains. The main-shock, occurred in 2016 August 24 th with a magnitude of 6.0, caused large damages to several historical centres of different Italian regions. With reference...

In the current paper, the RISK-UE quick method for vulnerability evaluation of an urban sector of Marigliano, a municipality in the district of Naples, has been applied. This paper aims at defining, starting from the seismic vulnerability analysis of the urban area analysed, a method to investigate its urban resilience by developing appropriate beh...

The preservation of masonry buildings typical of Italian historical centres represents a very pressing dilemma founded on recovery need of the urban fabric original character. In the current paper, based on a methodology developed by the first Author on building aggregates, the seismic vulnerability estimation of some masonry compounds in the heart...

Many catastrophes due to natural events occurred up to now lead, just recently, to move from a culture of emergency to a preventive approach on the seismic risk topic, which can be also included in a theoretical and conceptual framework of resilience and sustainability. This requires the knowledge of seismic vulnerability and hazard of urban areas...