Sourcing Limestone Masonry for the Restoration of Heritage Buildings: Frumoasa Monastery Case Study

Abstract

Cultural and religious heritage assessments and restorations are considered to be a fundamental requirement of any modern society because these constructions represent one of the most meaningful and tangible connections to our past. With rare exceptions, heritage buildings were built with materials and systems that could bear gravitational loads but not bending and shearing resulting from seismic loading. Thus, in many cases, earthquake ground motions have led to severe degradation and even the collapse of various parts of these structural systems. In order to address these issues, repair and replacement techniques are applied as common parts of restoration work. In the peculiar case of stone masonry structures, a standalone macroscopic examination is not self-assured and, most often, can lead to an inadequate selection of a replacement material. Therefore, a knowledge of mesoscopic, petrographic, physical and mechanical properties is compulsory in the design, planning and execution of restoration work. From this perspective, the present research has taken, as a case of study, the Frumoasa monastic complex from Iași, Romania, introducing microscopic, XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectroscopy and petrographically based approaches, comparing three limestone samples with a sample dislodged from the original wall. The physical properties (bulk and real densities, open porosity and capillary water absorption coefficient) and the mechanical properties (compressive and tensile strengths) were also experimentally determined. The samples were extracted from stone quarries located on the territories that were part of the same historical region as the Frumoasa monastic complex. Based on the outcomes of this study, suitable criteria for the stone replacement—consisting of identifying the main structure, quarry rock petrographical parameters and physical and mechanical characteristics—were determined and applied.

Seismic Effects on the Stone Masonry of Rubik Church in Albania: Interaction Modeling of Different Masonry Panel Types

“…For this purpose, different methods are used such as reinforcing the structure or strengthening the masonry with different injections into its joints. Onutu et al (2022) provide examples of methodology to determine the required interventions for restoration using the example of the Frumoasa monastery complex in Iasi, Romania. The authors rely on the results of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy, and petrographic approaches to determine the properties of masonry in the walls of buildings.…”

“…From all the analyses, tests, and investigations mentioned above, it is clear that at this time, the Rubik Church "Shelbuen" is relatively prone to seismic activity and after the earthquake, it requires conservation, restoration, and structural reinforcement (Thompson et al, 2022;Varro et al, 2021). In particular, interventions such as these can be used for this purpose (Scamardo et al, 2022;Babak et al, 2019;Onutu et al, 2022;Akhymbayeva et al, 2021).…”

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cost-Efficient 3D Printed Concrete Reinforced with Polypropylene Fibers

“…While 3DCP has shown promise in building construction, it has the potential to revolutionize the restoration and reinforcement of historical and aging masonry structures. Our goal is to develop techniques and materials that enhance the structural integrity and durability of these heritage buildings while preserving their architectural significance [28][29][30].…”