This chapter presents the results of a geotechnical and geophysical tests and a Deterministic Seismic Hazard Assessment (DSHA) carried out for the San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas church in Peru, also known as the Sistine Chapel of the Andes for its magnificent paintings. The DSHA is one of the key components of the ongoing seismic vulnerability study led by the Engineering and Heritage research group of the PUCP University, in Lima, Peru. This structural seismic vulnerability study is motivated primarily because of the historical, architectural and artistic features of this church, built circa the late 16th or early 17th century, which was declared part of the Cultural Heritage of Peru in 2010. The church was built by the Jesuits in the sixteenth century over a pre-colombian huaca. Construction for the church was in two main phases. In 1570 construction started with a small chapel an...

The development of the LPDS methodology component was funded by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica del Perú (CONCYTEC from its acronym in Spanish), according to the Convenio de Gestión N° 232-2015-FONDECYT. The support to the first two authors is greatly appreciated. The team would like to thank Dr. S. Gibson (University of the Holy Land), the head archaeologist working at the SJH for inviting the third and fourth author to work in this project. The third and fourth author would like to thank the Armenian Patriarchate and Father Asbed at the Church of the Nativity convent for the access to the site. Engineer Issa Juha, graduate students Peter Hubbard and Mauricio Gonzales, and Dr. Steve Patterson provided support to the team during the experimental campaign. The opinions presented herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CONCYTEC, or of th...

The study investigates the feasibility of using chitosan biopolymer as an admixture, or as an external coating, for earthen constructions to improve their resistance in two components: water induced degradation and key mechanical properties. The resistance to water induced degradation was evaluated in terms of contact angle and drip erosion tests, while the influence on mechanical properties was measured through compressive, tensile and three-point bending tests. The results indicate that the use of low concentrations of chitosan can improve significantly the performance in the two components and therefore was found to be a promising treatment for new or existing construction.