The Foundation Walls of the Baptistery Di San Giovanni: A Combination of Laser Scanning and Finite-Distinct Element Modeling to Ascertain Damage Origins

The Baptistery di San Giovanni is a complex masonry structure which has grown from a Roman domus to the minor basilica it is today in Florence. Before preservation plans can be enacted, it is important to understand how damages occurred as they can affect the overall vulnerability of the structure. This article provides insights into how existing cracks could have occurred on the foundation wall by means of documentation and numerical modeling. Laser scanning was used to capture the geometry of the stones and cracks present in the foundation wall; finite-distinct element modeling was used to reproduce the response of the wall; and fractional distance between simulated and existing conditions was used to compare the results of different loading conditions. The numerical simulations carried out provide results that fit reasonably with the existing damages on the foundation wall and can be used as the basis for future preservation and structural health monitoring efforts.