Vulnerability Of Machu Picchu Citadel
100 Years After Its Scientific Discovery
Author(s)
C. Cuadra
Abstract
In the year 2011, Peru celebrates 100 years since Hiram Bingham discovered the
citadel of Machu Picchu. The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu has become the most
famous historical site in Peru; the site was declared as world cultural heritage by
UNESCO in 1983 and also as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in
2007. All of its constructions are made of stone masonry, and during almost four
centuries the citadel endured and survived under a thick rain forest, until it was
discovered in 1911. This paper attempts to describe mainly the seismic
vulnerability by observing the structural conditions of historical stone buildings
which are located in the citadel. The Andean region of Peru corresponds to a
zone of low seismic activity however, these low intensity earthquakes could
produce damage in the stone constructions. Moreover, the present structural
conditions of some buildings lead one to think that these constructions have been
subjected to the action of past earthquakes or other geodynamic actions. The
characteristics of failures are discussed in this paper, through field survey, micro
vibration measurements and dynamic analysis. The field survey on damage
consisted of a detailed observation and evaluation of a group of selected
buildings. Also, micro vibration measurements were performed on the ground
and on some buildings to estimate their dynamic characteristics.
Keywords: stone masonry, world heritage, structural damage, seismic hazard.
1 Introduction
About 500 years ago, the Inca culture reached the peak in its development, which
was just before the arrival of Spaniard conquistadors. By this time, the Incas had
integrated a vast empire that stretched from the Maule River in Chile to northern
Ecuador along the western side of the Andes Mountains. This territory, as in
Keywords
stone masonry, world heritage, structural damage, seismic hazard
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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