Seismic retrofitting of San Pedro de Atacama church

This paper presents the seismic retrofitting works of the historical adobe church of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Laboratory material testing, finite element modelling, natural frequencies and modal shapes identification allowed to identify and to analyse critical areas, and to better understand the dynamic behaviour and the needed reinforcements to control displacements in the walls, the main structure elements. The vulnerability of earthen buildings in seismic areas may require reinforcements to avoid injury or loss of life and to also make a future seismic retrofitting possible as well. These reinforcements must comply with fundamental concerns of heritage conservation, as well as minimum intervention for authenticity, compatibility with the original materials to avoid damages, and reversibility to allow applying better solutions in the future.