The study of the dynamic behavior of masonry arches and vaults is of paramount importance for several reasons: the evaluation of the seismic capacity; the determination of failure modes; the determination of the ductility and of behavior factors; the design of effective strengthening interventions, like for example by employing Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites. Despite this, the literature still lacks a sufficiently large number of contributions on this subject, especially for what concerns either experimental study or reinforced arches. In this context, this paper, starting from the data of full-scale dynamic tests performed on unreinforced and Glass-FRCM reinforced Apulian tuff masonry arches, proposes some interesting observations on the dynamic behavior of masonry arches.

Structural monitoring represents one of the most important scientific and research sectors in the field of civil engineering. Using a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system, it is possible to reduce management costs, to operate in areas difficult to access and acquire data also during dangerous events such as landslides and earthquakes. Last researches have made available SHMs that operates in a noninvasive way, allowing the continuous monitoring without the need to suspend the use of the structure (for example in the case of an historical building , it is not necessary to install the measurement instruments for the periodic inspection suspending their normal activities and then creating loss of money, and it is not necessary to sample the structure itself). This paper presents an overview on the last researches on SHM systems in the field of civil engineering focused on the monitoring the foundations structures of the historical buildings, in order to stimulate the research in the field by highlighting the benefits obtained with their use.

The study of the old scientific-technological instrumentations exhibited in the Museo dell Arte della Lana of Stia in the Casentino Valley in Tuscany, allows to discover interesting connections between textile industry, science and technology. One example is a testing device from the beginning of the 19^th century that allows the user to characterize fibers, yarns, fabrics, and other hygroscopic materials. The testing device, permits true and accurate determination of their strength, and well as other properties affected by the moisture content of the fiber/material under study, without the need to refer to moisture regain tables and charts. The instrument represents a noteworthy improvement in the art of testing materials and products of hygroscopic nature. The napping machine, known as ratinatrice, is an example of technological instrumentation affected by the industrial development. A plate of the Encyclopédie de Diderot et d’Alambert - Art des textile, shows a drawing of the ratinatrice which can be considered a forerunner of the one of the museum dating back to 19^th century. The instrumentation consists of a wooden roller on which hooked iron teeth are fixed in order to maintain the fabric under tension and of a movable table with abrasive material that with different movements (straight, circular, oscillator), gives the fabric passing under pressure, the characteristic curly appearance. The napping machine design and making is shaped by the evolution of the finishing technique of the panno casentino, characterized by a curly surface. Differences between the drawing and the artefact may be found in the mechanical parts, in the dimensions of the hooked iron teeth and in the granulometry of the abrasive materials.

The research described in this paper illustrates the results of an investigation procedure that integrates different tools and methods, conducted to generate a parametric model starting from the results of the archaeological analysis of historical buildings. The HBIM of the Church of St. Francesco of Rocca Calascio (AQ) was built initially using the metric data produced from the photogrammetric digital survey, respecting the development requirements both in geometries (LOG) and in information (LOI), as well as in reliability (LOR) and in detail (Lod). This parametric model facilitates the documentation and sharing of a mass of data relating to the architectural heritage, and the correct knowledge and enhancement of the same. Furthermore, it allows the management and use of archaeological data, as well as for modelling, in the monitoring and design phases of conservation or fruition interventions, going beyond the boundaries of the disciplinary sector.

This contribution presents a part of the work and the methodology applied to it developed for the realization of an international research project. It is aimed at the analysis and preservation of an architectural heritage characteristic of Turin s Baroque architecture: the a fasce vaults, locally named as a fascioni (banded vaults). This architectural element, used by important architects, such as Guarini up to the local masters, to cover spaces of various sizes, found in the Turin area a wide application in palaces atria. A considerable number of banded vaulted atria were identified and surveyed by the research group. Then, those whose bands are generated from independent arches have been recognized and surveyed. The objective is the comparison of metric and geometric data between ideal models and built architecture over time, to evaluate their variations and understand the constructive methodology through three-dimensional modeling.