SEISMIC REHABILITATION OF THE IRAN BASTAN MUSEUM

In this paper the preliminary design of the seismic rehabilitation of the Museum is presented. It is the result of a joint effort by the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology of Tehran (IIEES), the Italian Agency for New technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA) and the Department of Mechanics and Materials (MECMAT) of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria. Due to both technical and economic considerations, base isolation appeared to be the most suitable technique. In fact, it allows the seismic behavior of the Museum to comply the provisions of the most advanced International codes as well as the Iranian guidelines, protecting both the building and the priceless art treasures against the most severe earthquake expected at the site, preserving its historical and monumental character as well. After a brief description of the building and of a simplified method for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of the Museum, the seismic actions are evaluated, aiming at determining the seismic demand. Subsequently, the base isolation and the new foundation system are described and a procedure is presented to check the isolation devices.