ABSTRACT
Soil-structure interaction is a large subject treated nowadays, in order to achieve a better insight of the structural responses especially in case of seismic action. Therefore, for a realistic view upon the effects that may occur on a monument, during the structural life cycle, soil-structure interaction needs to be considered. Basically while considering SSI in structural response, two main methods can be used to model the soils stiffness, the substructure method, when the stiffness of the foundation and foundation soil is modeled through stiffness springs and the FE modeling and analysis (FEA), respectively, when the entire soilfoundation-structure system is modeled through FE models. This paper aims to assess the effects of soils structure interaction upon a historical monument located in city of Iasi, North Eastern of Romania, the Catholic Church of lasi, which withstood during its life cycle important earthquakes. The monument’ site is located in a seismic active area of North - Eastern Romania, since not far from Iasi municipality; in Vrancea region is situated the epicenter of major tectonic relevant earthquakes for the Eastern Europe. Since the 18th century, the Catholic Cathedral of Iasi has been subjected to seismic action of relevant seismic intensity. As a cumulative effect of these actions, which occurred during the lifetime cycle, the rehabilitation based on technical screening has been done. This paper aims the dynamic modal and seismic analysis respectively, performed for the Catholic Cathedral of lasi, taking into account soil-foundation-structure interaction. The FE model of the structure is considered before and after the rehabilitation, including the effects of rigid base and flexible base, and of SSI. Finally, the obtained results are used to validate the rehabilitation solution, constituting, as well, a source of information for the SSI effects during structural lifetime cycle of the historical church.
