The Calculation of Thermal Movements and Eigenstresses in the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Starting from predicted yearly and daily distributions of the temperature fields induced by climatic actions over the cross-sections of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the correlated time histories of thermal movements and eigenstresses have been calculated by simply assimilating the monument to a prismatic, inhomogeneous elastic body. Comparisons performed between calculated and measured daily and seasonal thermal displacements evidenced a good prediction capability of the model and its attitude to be used as an interpretation tool to understand also thermal periodical movements in other tower-shaped buildings.