A Methodical Framework for Historic Masonry Typology Classification and Numerical Model Calibration Using In-Situ Stress Tests. Case Study on the Saint Saviour Monastery - Terra Sancta Museum of Arts and History

The reliable determination of mechanical properties representing in-situ conditions remains a central challenge in the structural analysis and numerical modeling of historic masonry structures, particularly in seismic regions where standardized assessment procedures are often lacking. This study contributes to a broader research initiative by proposing a systematic framework for masonry typology classification and numerical model calibration through the integration of guidance from Italian codes and standards, published literature, and in-situ stress and deformability testing using flat jacks, complemented by visual typology identification and qualitative assessment of masonry homogeneity using sonic tests. Experimental results are used to inform, constrain, and calibrate the mechanical parameters adopted in nonlinear analyses with the objective of reducing epistemic uncertainty and achieving a reliable representation of stiffness, load transfer mechanisms, and global structure response. The proposed methodical framework is applied to the Monastery of Saint Saviour in the Old City of Jerusalem, focusing on the Terra Sancta Museum of Arts and History, demonstrating its applicability as a foundational basis for performancebased seismic vulnerability analysis and conservation-oriented structural interventions in historic masonry structures.