Evaluation of Health Conditions of Wooden Structures of the Former Slave Quarters of Farm Santa Maria do Monjolinho, Located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil still has a diversity of architectural structures that represent various historical periods experienced. However, much of this cultural heritage is not properly maintained and this work aims to contribute to the conservation of the wooden structure of a historic site in the state of São Paulo. Problems related to the health/physical normality of wood present in historical building structures are commonly found, therefore, assessment measures and maintenance should be performed to secure the structural integrity of these parts, so that these architectural references are not lost over time. The farm Santa do Maria Monjolinho, located in São Carlos, the central region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, declared cultural heritage in 2007 by the department of state assets - CONDEPHAAT - stands out for the richness of its architectural set which was built in the nineteenth century, under the dominance of the coffee economy. Its facilities include the main house, yard coffee, granary and machine room, aqueduct and water wheel, chapel, mill, barn, settler houses and the building of the former slave quarters, fully preserved by the family Malta Campos. The old slave quarters, the object of our study, was built in the mid nineteenth century: today is the building that has the highest level of degradation. Originally consisted of two large environments, called wards, one female and the other male, with the function of house the farms slaves. After abolition, italian colonists adapted the building turning it into five houses with party walls of clay and wattle-and-daub. The roof, which consists in a wood structure and clay tiles, is bulging and has loads of broken tiles and the timber (rafters, beams and purlins) structurally compromised due to moisture attack and wood decay agents. The roof structure is supported by brickwork pillars and fresh mainstays, and some of them exhibit some level of degradation. To evaluate the health of these mainstays were used wood samples from other similar structures in the same property, built at the same era of the slave quarters. Tests of shear, compression parallel to the fibers and density that were developed made possible to make an analogy to the strength and condition of the wooden structures that support the roof of the slave quarters. The results as such tests show the reduction of the mechanical resistance of the pieces evaluated, leading to the need to reassess the conditions of service of the structures considered. Seeking an evaluation and diagnosis of health and structural conditions of the roof of the slave quarters, we intend to perform nondestructive tests on some parts of the wood of the structure itself. To do so, the following equipment could be used: Stress Wave Timer, Pylodin and Resistograph, offered by USP. Thus, using data obtained by the tests will be possible to determine the percentage of deterioration of structural components and the indication of restoration suitable for conservation of the structure, while cultural heritage of regional significance.