Seismic assessment and base isolation of free-standing monumental marble columns

A new step of a research programme concerning the seismic performance assessment of art objects, and their enhanced protection by means of innovative base isolation solutions, is presented in this paper. Attention is particularly focused on free-standing monumental columns. Rocking and sliding effects are expressly modelled in the time-history analyses, so as to evaluate their influence beginning from the lowest normative seismic input levels. The case study marble column examined here exhibits a rocking-affected response for the action scaled at the basic design earthquake, and potential overturning-induced collapse under seismic action scaled at the maximum considered earthquake level. The response becomes safe and undamaged thanks to the proposed retrofit intervention, which consists in base-isolating the bearing floor of the location where the column is situated.