On employment of FRP elements in constructions: the case of an all GFRP covering for historic structure stroked by earthquake

The paper shows the approach toward the calculation of one of the bigger PFRP (Pultruded Fiber Reinforced Polymer) structure realized in high seismic zone, i.e., a covering structure of an historic church stroked and partially collapsed by earthquake in L’Aquila (Italy), the 4 April 2009. The goal regards the analysis and evaluation of seismic performance of that structure made by very light and elastic-brittle material, as FRP material, in a moment in which there is a loss of technical recommendation for specific calculation in seismic field, indeed actually some deepening already present in literature allows only static field. The covering structure is an all FRP spatial-reticular with elements made by pultrusion process, connection plates by bag molding process and steel bolts. The PFRP structure covers more than 1000 meters squares surface with 32 meters height and only 100 kN weight. Detail performance of first part of PFRP structure through mode vibrations and involved percentage mass deduced by numerical approach with discussion of employment’s perspectives of PFRP material in seismic zones than traditional material are showed.