Comparison of methodologies for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of the sanctuary of Madonna della Libera in Pratola Peligna

The sanctuary of Madonna della Libera in Pratola Peligna is an important place of worship, which was badly damaged during the Abruzzo earthquake on the 6th of April 2009. The extent of the damage caused by the earthquake highlighted the seismic vulnerability of the sanctuary. The seismic vulnerability assessment of churches is a difficult issue even today and represents an important preliminary step for preserving cultural heritage monuments and sites. The aim of this study is to propose a multimethodological approach for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of complex masonry buildings, such as great churches, that lack globally recognised antiseismic regulations. This approach provides a better understanding of the various aspects that characterise the seismic capacity of the structures. In particular, the nonlinear static analysis on FEM models of the main substructures of the church, the so-called 'two-steps' procedure and the nonlinear kinematic analysis of the collapse mechanisms of the main macro-elements are carried out. The evaluations are validated through comparison with the post-earthquake building damage, which provided insight for defining seismic intervention strategies.