Approccio integrato per la caratterizzazione delle murature storiche siciliane. Il caso di Gangi

This study is part of a research aimed at developing a database of mechanical and hygrothermal information for Sicilian historic walls. This database is intended to support the analysis of the envelope performances of the historic building and to integrate data collected through in-situ measurements. The method is based on the analysis of local contexts: stone walls are divided in typologies according to the detailed non-destructive examination of the historic building stock, and laboratory and in-situ tests are carried out to characterize the mechanical and thermophysical properties of walls and masonry materials. This study focuses on the local context of Gangi, where a large amount of historic masonry buildings is conserved. Based on the observation of all visible outdoor wall surfaces, six masonry categories have been identified. The prevalent masonry material is local calcarenite, examined through X-ray diffraction analysis. The compressive strength of this stone has been inspected through destructive tests, carried out on nine samples from two masonry units. The mechanical performance of each masonry category has been assessed by means of the Masonry Quality Index, while a preliminary in-situ test has been performed to determine the thermal resistance of the case study selected for one masonry category. This paper shows the results of the study and discusses its further development.