Failure analysis of Monastery of Jerónimos, Lisbon : how to learn from sophisti...

• Author(s): Lourenço, Paulo B. ; Krakowiak, Konrad J. ; Fernandes, Francisco M. ; Ramos, Luís F.
• Date: 2007
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/9169
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Structural failures; Finite element analysis; Damage assessment; Non-destructive inspection; Failure analysis
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Conservation and restoration of historical structures are still a challenge to modem practitioners even if significant research advances have occurred in the last decades. Significant advances have been made in non-destructive testing, mechanical characterization, tools for advanced numerical analysis, knowledge on traditional materials and techniques, and innovative materials and techniques. In the paper, Monastery of Jero´nimos in Lisbon, Portugal is adopted as a case study for structural safety assessment. A first discussion is held on the difficulties related to the need of adopting simplified geometries of the model. After a set of sophisticated non-linear failure analyses, a second discussion is held with respect to the consequences associated with the results obtained. Finally, additional in situ testing and monitoring are carried out in a truly iterative process of knowledge accumulation before defining any remedial measures.