Sensitivity-based approaches to model updating have become widely used because of their capability to calibrate themodel by taking into account the influence of updating parameters associated to different structural elements. Global sensitivity analysis (SA) allows model updating to be carried out even in the case of elevated uncertainty about the material characteristics. Architectural heritage structures deserve specific attention on account of their intrinsic geometrical complexity and heterogeneity. In this article, the concept of global SA is applied for the first time to complex monumental structures, and a comparative view is offered on more classical local sensitivity approaches. Different finite element (FE) calibration techniques—via global and local SA—were applied to the intriguing case of the church of S. Maria del Suffragio in L'Aquila (Italy), severely damaged by the 2009 earthquake. The FE updating was based on experimental data acquired by a dynamic monitoring system. Finally, calibration strategies were assessed through time history analyses by comparing the responses to the recorded seismic even

The paper shows the activity of a 2-year static and dynamic monitoring activity to check the structural response and the actual level of damage of a historic church hit by earthquake in L'Aquila (Italy) in 2009. Structural health monitoring was carried out with accelerometers and transducers that recorded time histories of the main earthquake-induced ground motions and ambient vibrations. The paper focuses particularly on residual performance and assessment of the ancient church after six earthquake response data set—because of the seismic swarm—via a modal identification of output-only systems by using frequency domain decomposition. In this way, fundamental frequency, mode shapes, damping ratios and displacements can be estimated without knowing the input that has excited the system. The dynamic monitoring provides also a way to check possible drops of tension in the cables and relaxation in the FRP belts used for safety. Efficiency and reliability of modal identification of basilica-type churches, via the dynamic response of macro-elements only in comparison with the whole analysis, are finally proposed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The research shows the results of experimental tests to establish the dynamic parameters of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) structural elements in the free vibration field. The tests and the analysis consider the simply supported configuration of pultruded elements characterized by glass fiber reinforcement, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and the thermosetting vinylester matrix subjected to flexural, transversal, and torsional vibrations. Comparison between the experimental results and numerical analysis and the finite element method is also presented. The dynamic response of GFRP structural elements is compared with the behavior of steel and aluminum elements. The results show a good performance, especially in the case of open cross-sectional profiles, considering the advantages deriving from the ratio between the dead load and total load of fiber reinforced composite material. Finally, the use of pultruded GFRP elements for new-built decks is investigated to detect possible resonance phenomena due...