A Model for Comprehensive Material Degradation and Strength Characteristics Assessment of Historic Masonry Structures

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Heritage Conservation
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Historic buildings face degradation, load changes, and require adaptation for new uses.
• Assessing the structural integrity of these buildings is crucial for safety and preservation.
• Existing methods may not fully address the complexities of degraded historic masonry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a numerical model for assessing the structural condition of historic masonry buildings.
• To provide a method for strength analysis of degraded materials and structural sections.
• To create a classification system for damaged masonry structures.

Main Methods:

• Development of a numerical model utilizing macro-elements for structural analysis.
• Application of the model to strength analyses of degraded masonry materials and sections.
• Generalization of the approach to include a classification system for damaged structures.

Main Results:

• The numerical macro-element model effectively analyzes the strength of degraded masonry.
• A practical classification system for damaged masonry structures was developed.
• The approach facilitates database indexing and AI-assisted pattern recognition for structural assessment.

Conclusions:

• The proposed macro-element model offers a comprehensive method for evaluating historic masonry structures.
• The developed classification system enhances the management and analysis of building structure databases.
• This approach supports the safety, repair, and modernization of historic masonry buildings.