After successful completion of the course, students are able to assess and apply basic scientific working methods and methods of archaeometry, especially archaeoseismology, in historical building research. This course aims to recognise and read damage patterns due to seismic events on masonry and vaults, especially in Roman antiquity, as a result of earthquakes, but also to recognise and read constructive prophylaxis as a response to experienced earthquakes and to be able to question their causes and consequences critically.
Earthquakes are probably one of the most devastating natural disasters to which humans are exposed, especially in cities. The structural damage caused by these events and the attempt to mitigate them in future seismic movements shape the image of architecture and cities in many places. They are decisive for the use of building materials and the choice of construction techniques, building typologies and development systems, but also for transformation and functioning resilience in cities.Tracing this phenomenon is the task of the course. The methods range from masonry analysis (reading the masonry stratigraphy and interpreting the damage/crack patterns, examining the mechanics of the masonry especially in antique structures in Rome) to archival work.On the one hand, archaeoseismology looks at the effects and causes of historical earthquakes from a mechanical perspective, but on the other hand, in the analysis of damage patterns in historical buildings and in interdisciplinary exchange, it can contribute to optimisations in modern building technology and in earthquake protection and helps to be able to define future guidelines for earthquake-resistant building: historical.smart!
The course is composed as follows ...Theory/Basics:
Practice:
