In this paper, an assessment of natural radioactivity content, radiological hazard for human beings and mineralogical composition of a pumice rock sample from Lipari Island (Sicily, Southern Italy), historically employed as a building material, is presented as a case study. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K was assessed by means of High-Purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Based on the obtained data, several indices were calculated – namely the absorbed dose rate (D), the Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), the Activity Concentration Index (Iγ) and the alpha index (Iα) – in order to estimate potential radiological hazards from prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation. As a result, while Iα remains below the recommended threshold, the remaining radiological health hazard indices exceed internationally recognized safety limits, suggesting potential implications for the use of Lipari pumice in construction applications. Furthermore, with the aim of identifying the radioisotope-bearing mineral phases within the pumice matrix, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out. The results of this study offer a valuable reference for future investigations on background radioactivity levels in natural stones commonly employed as building materials. Notably, given the lack of prior studies on the radiological impact of Lipari pumice, this work represents a novel contribution to the field, offering new insights into its radioactive properties.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of consolidants in reducing radon (Rn-222) exhalation from building materials commonly found in historical structures. Radon, a radioactive gas derived from Ra-226 decay, represents a significant indoor health risk due to its tendency to accumulate. Experimental investigations were conducted within the ATHENA project, assessing radon emission from various lithotypes subjected to accelerated aging and treated with different consolidants, including PDMS, NanoEstel (silica-based materials), and NanoRestore (calcium-based material). Radon exhalation rates were measured using a closed chamber method connected to a RAD7 detector, focusing particularly on Viterbo tuff. Results demonstrated an exponential increase in radon levels before reaching equilibrium, highlighting significant variations based on material composition, porosity, and applied consolidants. Notably, NanoEstel showed a remarkable reduction in radon emissions compared to untreated and other consolidant-treated samples. These findings underscore the importance of consolidants in heritage conservation, emphasizing their potential role in improving indoor air quality and safeguarding public health. This research was carried out as part of the PRIN 2022 PNRR ATHENA project, funded by the European Union through the Next Generation EU initiative.

In the present study, the displacement timeseries of ancient Etruscan pottery was analysed. The investigated pottery is exhibited within a museum display case and subjected to environmental vibrations induced by nearby urban transportation traffic. Some mathematical tools suited to non-linear and non-stationary analysis, namely the Recurrence Plot and the Stockwell transform, were used for the first time in this particular field. Even though the pottery displacements were small, the use of conventional high accuracy contact sensors should be discarded, due to the extreme fragility of the artefacts. Therefore, it was necessary to resort to a contactless methodology based on video recordings. In particular, the Motion Magnification method was applied to magnify the pottery displacements in order to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, facilitating the analysis of the vibrations. Moreover, it is shown that the Recurrence Plot is able to asses the presence of a real periodic dynamic, and therefore to confirm the frequency domain analysis results even for noisy, non-stationary signals.

This paper presents an experimental study on the structural response of a 1500-mm span masonry arch subjected to self-weight and an asymmetric concentrated vertical load increased up to failure. The arch is tested under controlled conditions, with steel plates installed at the springing to prevent parasitic sliding and ensure realistic boundary constraints. Displacement transducers (LVDTs) are strategically positioned to monitor vertical and horizontal displacements at selected points. The experiment allows for a direct observation of the evolution of the failure mechanism up to collapse, characterized classically by the formation of four plastic hinges. A simplified numerical validation is conducted using both static and kinematic limit analysis approaches, each based on Heyman’s no-tension assumptions. The static analysis relies on the construction of a funicular polygon, while the kinematic one is developed according to the principle of virtual work pre-assigning the position of the four hinges. The analytical results, while not introducing novel methodologies, served to verify the consistency of the observed failure mechanism and the collapse load predicted experimentally. The study contributes to a better understanding of the experimental behavior of masonry arches under the application of non-symmetric point loading, providing a benchmark dataset to support future strengthening interventions with innovative reinforcement techniques and to validate numerical models for the structural assessment of heritage masonry.

This paper synthesizes a research conducted for the Italian Ministry of Culture - Superintendence of Rome and Rieti between 2023 and 2024. Its principal aim is to point out the different conditions of minor settlements and built elements still presenting urban and architectural-historical value after the destructions caused by the 2016 earthquake in Central Italy. This general glance was achieved especially for the Amatrice and Accumoli territories with different analysis and studies. Their results can be considered from different points of view and allow to focus on significant aspects: data to be used as a fundamental information for post-seismic planning, different scales to be considered, available tools to be implemented to ease reconstruction and prevention in ancient small towns. A planning point of view seems to be necessary to offer effective proposals to reduce seismic risk of historical settlements in fragile territories, such the ‘inner areas’ of the Appennine Regions.