Non-destructive and minor-destructive tests for masonry characterization of the Ghirlandina tower in Modena; prove non distruttive e semidistruttive per la caratterizzazione delle murature della torre Ghirlandina di Modena.

This article reports the phases and the main results of a survey campaign aimed at evaluating the homogeneity and estimating the mechanical properties of the masonry constituents the Ghirlandina Tower in Modena. To achieve these objectives, the Municipality of Modena charged the DISTART Department of the University of Bologna to carry out a survey extended to both the brick masonry structures and the stone exterior facing of the tower. The campaign of investigation carried out by the DISTART included sonic tests to evaluate the homogeneity of the walls, taking samples of brick and mortar, performing laboratory tests, with processing of the results aimed at obtaining an overall information of the mechanical properties of masonry in the tower. The on-site investigations were carried out in the period from June 2009 to March 2010.