Preliminary Fragility Assessment of a 19th-Century Baroque Church Bell Tower Using Multiple Time History Analyses

A preliminary fragility assessment reveals that the 19th-century Baroque bell tower of Pulilan, Bulacan’s Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador is highly vulnerable to seismic damage. Using Linear Time History Analysis (LTHA) with scaled ground motion records, researchers found that even moderate peak ground accelerations (PGAs) could lead to structural compromise, surpassing the 50% probability threshold at the Life Safety limit. The study integrated material properties of concrete and adobe into a 3D structural model in Midas Gen, providing critical insights for heritage preservation. These findings underscore the need for retrofitting measures to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site from potential seismic threats.

Clemente, J. DG., Uy, F. A., & Baylon, M. B. (2025). Preliminary Fragility Assessment of a 19th-Century Baroque Church Bell Tower Using Multiple Time History Analyses. International Journal of Civil Engineering, 12(5), 197–209. https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/ijce-v12i5p115