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 finite-element (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.

Keywords:

• Structural analysis
• Finite-element modelling
• Contact analysis
• Historical structures
• Restoration

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial support provided by the architect Javier Felgueroso Carrascal and the Department of Construction, University of Oviedo. We sincerely appreciate the helpful comments and discussion which provided so much valuable assistance during this work. We also thank to Swanson Analysis Inc. for the use of ANSYS University Intermediate program and Workbench simulation environment and AST Simulation Ltd for the use of ANSYS Mechanical.