Evaluation of the damage in the vault and portico of the pre-Romanesque chapel of San Salvador de Valdediós using frictional contacts and the finite-element method

Abstract

Monuments are by definition unique buildings which cannot be reduced to any standard structural scheme. In this study, we have used quasi-static loads, which is common practice in many finiteelement (FEM) analyses of masonry structures. Thus it is difficult to evaluate their reliability, because in addition to the many uncertainties that exist in all 'old' buildings, no statistics on the behaviour of similar buildings are available. In this paper we describe a study of the structure of the chapel of San Salvador de Valdediós and proposals for its restoration. The non-linear analysis is based on the application of FEM to each of the stone blocks in this ancient structure. The blocks are assembled side by side using 'contact elements' in order to reproduce the mechanical behaviour of the mortar and the surface conditions of the blocks, some of which are seriously damaged. A clear understanding of the structural behaviour, based on sophisticated analysis tools, can reduce the extent of the remedial measures necessary for the restoration of the chapel vault and portico. In this case, severe damage to the chapel vault has affected the portico, resulting in the possibility of a structural collapse. Finally, based on the numerical results obtained for different load cases and hypotheses, we propose a solution for the repair of this part of the chapel using either traditional materials or compatible substitutes.

Optimization Based on Design of Experiments (DOE) Using Finite Element Model (FEM) Analysis Applied to Retrofitting the Church of Baldornon, Spain

“…Therefore, the study of the strengthening of the monument and its structural stability constitutes a matter of great interest theoretically and practically and requires an evaluation and some specific knowledge intimately associated with the resistance of materials and numerical modelling (Lourenco et al 2007;del Coz Díaz et al 2007c). The main contribution of the paper is the architectural strengthening by means of the relationship between the structural stability and the modern numerical techniques in the study of the soil-structure interaction (Lourenco et al 2007).…”

Application of a new methodology based on Eurocodes and finite element simulation to the assessment of a romanesque church

“…Besides that, other authors analyze the structural behaviour of historical structures under different conditions. So, in Del Coz [21] a study of the structure of the chapel of San Salvador de Valdediós (Spain) and proposals for its restoration are presented, considering the severe damage detected in the chapel vault. The Romanesque Farneta abbey (Italy) is analyzed in Betti [22] in order to assess the effectiveness of the usual structural reinforcement in terms of increased the seismic capacity.…”

Capacity Assessment of the Titus Tunnel Bridge Using Analytical and Numerical Techniques

“…Sevim et al (2011a, b) investigated the dynamic behavior of singlespan masonry arch bridges using modal and time history analysis from information gained through in situ vibration tests. Several other researchers used the FE approach for modeling of masonry arch bridges (e.g., Crisfield 1988;Molins and Roca 1998;Fanning and Boothby 2001;Creazza et al 2002;Del Coz Díaz et al 2007). Most of the latter studies used damage models, with no tension and limited compression resistance, to represent the masonry material behavior.…”