Survey of The Church of San Giovanni Battista

Structural Survey

The structural survey of the building was started as a collaboration between US and Italian researchers . This group is lead by  Prof. Emanuale Speranzini and Prof. Marco Corradi of the Facolta di Ingenieria   of the Universita di Perugia. Laboratorio dei Materiali

Student researchers : Alberto Guerrini, Monica Nucciarell of The University of Perugia and Chad Sipple of UWM Engineering School. Other UWM students collaborated to varying degrees in the the structural survey.

The objectives of the structural survey of the church are:

• A diagnostic study of the existing static condition of the building

• Make proposals for the consolidation of the structure if needed

• Study the structure from a historical point of view.

The work  in 2002 -03  includes:

• Visual survey of all cracks and other apparent structural problems

• Visual survey of the materials used in the structure

• Sonograms to establish continuity of materials

• Videoscopic survey of wall to verify continuity of material

• Magnetic studies to find embedded steel structures

• Measuring actual loads on masonry walls using flat hydraulic jacks

• Compression tests of walls to establish load caring capacity of  walls with flat hydraulic jacks

• Static and dynamic modeling of the structure with ANSYS to establish behavior of structure in earth quake conditions and to calculate existing safety margins.

Ms. Nucciarelli and Mr. Guerrini are doing their graduation thesis studying the structure of San Giovanni Battista

Photo Gallery: Structural Survey