Dynamic behaviour of a modern bell tower — A case study

The present study evaluates the dynamic behaviour of a modern concrete bell tower built in 1994. The structure has an unusual geometrical shape, with a wall 20 m high and 0.40 m thick. The tower’s dynamic interaction with the forces caused by the bells swinging becomes clearly evident even without using instrumentation. In 1998 the structure was strengthened by means of a three-dimensional steel truss, but the dynamic problem still exists after the strengthening. Consequently, the authors conducted a study to assess the scale and cause of the problem which consisted of an experimental and numerical study on the tower. This paper highlights the dynamic problem that bells can cause to slender bell towers and recommendations are given to help minimise this fact.