Intersectii / Intersections
Vol.4 No.4 Art.37
Influence of deformation at a heritage building support on stability of groined masonry arch
Kaspars Bondars and Aleksandrs Korjakins
Abstract
Masonry arch stability criteria definition has been developed by numerical modeling of cracked
arch shell structure of Riga cathedral.
Settlement of supports induced strains in masonry arch shells which lead to stress redistribution
and crack forming in masonry shell structures is serious problem for heritage buildings.
Deformation criteria should be developed for safety exploitation of heritage masonry structures.
The main task of the present research is - developing deformation criteria for evaluating of masonry
shell construction stress-strain state. Three-dimensional scanning of arch structure by means of
Leica 3D laser scanners were used to determine geometric model of masonry arch shell.
Previously accomplished monitoring data was used and a new monitoring program was developed
to define unequal settlements of supports. The settlements monitoring of Riga cathedral supports
and numerical modeling to define settlement inequality were used as initial information to
compare computer modeled deformed structure shape with existing cracked masonry structure.
Geodesic monitoring by optical tools and mechanical tensometers have been used for determination
of a crack expansion since 2005. Twenty one Optical Fiber Sensors of SOFO type are used now to
measure deformations to establish safe exploitation limits. Multilevel analysis of masonry
shell has been fulfilled by finite element software and applied for developing safe exploitation criteria.
KEYWORDS: structural masonry, masonry fracture, groined arch, heritage building safety, numerical modeling.
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