Analysis of Historic Brick Walls’ Strengthening Methods

Abstract

Analysis of the behaviour of historical brick walls is difficult and complicated. However, computer calculations are being increasingly used in the evaluation of cultural heritage buildings and some of their elements. The aim of this paper is to analyze the historic brick walls reinforcement. Different methods of strengthening are compared and discussed. Numerical analysis, based on finite element method, was conducted on the assumption of three methods of wall strengthening: using the steel element (I-beam), overall relaying and partial relaying the wall with new bricks. Analysis of the wall without any intervention was made for comparison. Characteristics of strengthening of historical brick walls are described in the paper. The information should allow for a better understanding of the behaviour of brick wall in this research.Calculations were performed in Abaqus software, for the garrison arrest's prison yard at Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street in Olsztyn in Poland. In this object, prison's yard will be covered with the glazed roofing, resting on the perimeter walls. This is the reason why load transmitted to the wall is increased and why strengthening is needed. Survey allows to calculate displacements and the results are used to select the most appropriate methods of strengthening brick wall in this object. A comparison analysis has been performed and possible directions for further research in this field have been indicated.