Analysis of Site Response and Building Damage Distribution Induced by the 31 October 2002 Earthquake at San Giuliano di Puglia (Italy)

Abstract

This paper concerns the analysis of the site amplification that significantly influenced the non-uniform damage distribution observed at San Giuliano di Puglia(Italy)afterthe2002Moliseearthquake(MW=5.7).Infact,thehistorical coreofthetown,settledonoutcroppingrock,receivedlessdamagethanthemore recent buildings, founded on a clayey subsoil. Comprehensive geotechnical and geophysicalinvestigationsallowedadetaileddefinitionofthesubsoilmodel.The seismicresponseofthesubsoilwasanalyzedthrough2-Dfinite-elementand3-D spectral-elementmethods.Theaccuracyofsuchmodelswasverifiedbycomparing the numerical predictions to the aftershocks recorded by a temporary seismic network.Aftercalibration,theseismicresponsetoasyntheticinputmotionreproducing the main shock was simulated. The influence of site amplification on the damage distribution observed was finally interpreted by combining the predicted variation of ground motion parameters with the structural vulnerability of the buildings.