Identification and modelling of displacement fields due to slope movements for the vulnerability analysis of historic buildings

ABSTRACT: Modelling the influence of deep excavations or tunnelling on the serviceability of existing buildings is a well-known geotechnical engineering problem, while the knowledge and scientific contri-butions referable to the assessment of the damage induced by landslide movements on buildings are lack-ing. The present study concerns the analyses of slope movements, in order to be able to define an intensi-ty parameter useful for the definition of fragility curves for historic buildings subjected to slow slope movements. For this purpose, several numerical analyses have been carried out to assess the pattern of displacement in slope under free-field conditions, as the geometric and geotechnical characteristics of the slope vary. These variations are associated with the relative global slope safety factors, which be-come the reference intensity parameter in the analyses. The results have been obtained in terms of verti-cal and horizontal strains in different sections of interest along the slope, which have been related to the relevant safety factor.