Seismic vulnerability and risk assessment of historic masonry buildings

Seismic risk evaluation of built-up areas involves analysis of the level of earthquake hazard of the region, building vulnerability and exposure. Within this approach that defines seismic risk, building vulnerability assessment assumes great importance, not only because of the obvious physical consequences in the eventual occurrence of a seismic event, but also because it is the one of the few potential aspects in which engineering research can intervene. In fact, rigorous vulnerability assessment of existing buildings and the implementation of appropriate retrofitting solutions can help to reduce the levels of physical damage, loss of life and the economic impact of future seismic events. Vulnerability studies of urban centresshould be developed with the aim of identifying building fragilities and reducing seismic risk. As part of the rehabilitation of the historic city centre of Coimbra, a complete identification and inspection survey of old masonry buildings has been carried out. The main purpose of this research is to discuss vulnerability assessment methodologies, particularly those of the first level, through the proposal and development of a method previously used to determine the level of vulnerability, in the assessment of physical damage and its relationship with seismic intensity.

Traditional algarvian distillats and liqueurs historic scientific aspects

All the evidence indicates that distillation and liqueurs preparation began in Monchique mountain because this place was pointed as a possible capital of the oldest population of Algarve and an important Arabic village (Barreto, 1972: 19). It was possible to find lots of vestiges like the alembic produced by Arabic population near the X century (Telo, 1988: 77). Traditionally the Algarvian people produce the Arbutus unedo L., fig, carob, grape distillates. At the same time they produce liqueur-using maceration of parts of plants or fruits in some kinds of distillates. Most of the work about Algarvian distillates started by studying the basic compounds of Arbutus unedo spirits by gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) as well as other physical-chemical properties. In a second phase aged distillates were studied by their phenolic compounds evolution using high resolution liquid chromatography (HPLC). Volatile compounds of traditional liqueurs were identified by head space micro extraction solid phase (HE-SPME) and also analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and when possible confirmed with standards. Total phenols were determined by Folin-Ciocalteur method. Flavenoids were studied by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sensorial analysis was also done in every drink studies. The results showed that the arbutus distillate doesn’t present a high level of methanol according to the current legislation. The excesses of acidity or ethyl acetate present normal values when the fermentation is well done (Galego, et al. 1995: 341; Galego, et al. 1995: 685). During the aging process, the colour of spirits tend to become darker, the colour changes occurred more rapidly in the arbutus spirits located in cellars with higher temperatures (Galego, et al. 2001: 432). In the sensory evaluation of samples aged during 12 months into 50 L medium toasting level oak wood barrels, panellists considered that samples of arbutus spirit had too much wood flavour and they were not able to detect the characteristic aroma of arbutus fruit (Galego, et al., 2001: 183). Differences in liqueurs were observed using HS-SPME-GC, HS-SPME-GC-MS or HPLC analysis and this observation was confirmed by a sensorial panel (Galego, et al. 2003: 60).

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.

Historic preservation news and notes

The State Historic Preservation Office at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History publishes a monthly newsletter featuring agency programs and events, and highlights those of state and national preservation groups.