ABSTRACT
The role of geotechnical engineering in the preservation of historical sites can be found, among others, in the understanding of the effects of local soil conditions when an earthquake happens. These effects, combined with the vulnerability of the buildings for materials and construction techniques, the soil-structure interaction, and the seismic hazard define a risk scenario. In this context, heritage conservation becomes challenging and site-specific because of the variability of the affecting parameters. However, the availability of case histories strengthens the knowledge, allows defining some general outcomes, and provides teachings for proper actions towards the preservation of the historical sites. In this paper, the case history of the municipality of San Giuliano di Puglia, in the Molise region (Italy), hit by the 2002 Molise earthquake, is presented. The site is peculiar for the variability of the damage distribution in the town where the amplification effects played a significant role. Emblematic is the case of the historic core of the town, which performed well compared to the valley, where the tragic collapse of the F. Jovine school occurred. Local amplification effects will be further analyzed in this paper and the results of 2D site response analyses will be presented. This municipality is monitored through permanent seismic stations located along the main section of the village and by vertical arrays that are a precious source for a better understanding of both soil properties and site response.
