Investigation On Materials And Structures ForThe Reconstruction Of The Partially CollapsedCathedral Of Noto (Sicily)

Abstract

The Cathedral of Noto partially collapsed on March 13th, 1996, after being damaged by the 1990 earthquake. Following the removal of the ruins and the geometrical survey of the remains, an experimental investigation was carried out on site and in laboratory. The aims were: to understand the causes of the collapse and to know if some damages to the structure existed prior to the 1990 earthquake, to clearly state whether the remaining piers could be saved or had to be reconstructed and to test the possibility of repair by injection of the remaining structural elements. The experimental survey was carried out by the Laboratory of the DIS, Politecnico of Milan, in collaboration with the designers and the experts working on the reconstruction. Transactions on the Built Environment vol 39 © 1999 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509