The influence of structural alterations on the damages of the Amatrice earthquake, Italy (2016)

Abstract

On August 24, 2016, in the Italian Apennines, an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 Mw occurred mainly affecting the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto, causing almost 300 deaths. This paper presents the results of a field work carried out one month after the seismic event on the remains of the earthquake in the historical city center of Amatrice. It has been verified that the original structures of the buildings of this historical heritage center had been manipulated (expansion works, refurbishments, changes in use...) using new materials and systems, such as concrete and steel, generating anomalous mixed structural systems, that are not considered in the state of knowledge. The results of the study carried out demostrate the higher seismic vulnerability of these constructions.