Applications and recent studies on seismic isolation in Italy

The development and application of seismic isolation in Italy are presented in this paper. The absence of a suitable technical code limited the use of seismic isolation until the Molise earthquake of October 31st 2002. A great impulse was given by the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, when the Italian Civil Protection Department realised buildings with seismic isolation for the homeless, the so-called C.A.S.E. project, using sliding pendulum isolators. After that, seismic isolation has always been considered, especially for public buildings, in the reconstruction after seismic events but not only. The evolution of seismic isolation application in Italy is analysed and represented in different diagrams. The structural type, the new or retrofit application and the type of isolation device are distinguished. A summary of the Italian technical code is also provided. Despite the mentioned problems, research has always been very active and advanced in Italy, thanks to the work of several universities and research institutions as well as producer companies. Among the most interesting subjects, here are reported the application for the retrofit of existing buildings, keeping them operational during the works, and the observed behaviour under far fault earthquakes, when the onset of motion could not be guaranteed, especially for friction based devices