An integrated approach for geotechnical and structural analysis of the Nymphaeum of Genazzano

The conservation of Italian architectural heritage, so vast and rich in historical and artistic terms, requires a multidisciplinary approach to understand the ongoing phenomena and to implement countermeasures against degradation factors caused by natural and anthropic risks. In this paper an integrated, geotechnical and structural, research for the investigation of the stability conditions of the Ninfeo di Genazzano is presented. The monument, which dates back to the Renaissance and is attributed to Bramante, is at present in ruins. The interpretation of the instability phenomena, already suggested in architectural studies of the past century, was carried out using a numerical approach based on the Finite Element method. Advanced constitutive laws were adopted to describe the key features of the mechanical behaviour of soil strata and masonry structures and of their mutual interaction. The comparison between the numerical results and the current conditions proves the predictive capabilities of the developed models and their potentiality in the context of evaluation and preservation of architectural heritage.