A multidisciplinary approach for the assessment of the dynamic and seismic behaviour of archaeological structures in Hierapolis of Phrygia, Turkey

The knowledge path applied to the conservation of archaeological sites represents a crucial phase with the aim of qualifying materials and structural features, as well as identifying vulnerabilities for the selection of possible interventions. The use of non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques can significantly contribute to understand the overall structural behavior and correctly simulate the response through suitably calibrated numerical models. Archeo-logical ruins often show several vulnerabilities due to the presence of incomplete structures, discontinuities, deterioration, and cumulated damages. In this framework, the paper de-scribes a multidisciplinary approach for the structural assessment and conservation of some incomplete structures in the archeological site of Hierapolis of Phrygia (TR). The region is still nowadays characterized by high seismicity. This study is part of a bigger project con-sisting of the development of an archaeo-seismic park in Hierapolis. On this site, preserved and visible seismic effects on structures and soils making an educational function for valori-zation, prevention, and conservation purposes. The applied methodology consists of the exe-cution of structural and geophysical inspections on selected structures (e.g,. Roman Bath complex, Nymphaeum) to experimentally define their dynamic response and characterize soil properties for an accurate simulation of the seismic behavior. Dynamic identification test on structures (with the support of other NDTs), ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical re-sistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic prospection methods on soils were applied. The out-comes are used to calibrate and validate numerical models, mainly based on the discrete el-ement method (DEM), able to simulate the dynamic behavior of structures composed by large stone blocks with thin mortar layers or massive multi-leaves freestanding walls, which represent the main structural types in Hierapolis. The study has been used to define an ap-propriate methodology to choose practical and reliable solutions for inspections and the correct selection of numerical tools for structural analyses and simulations.