Abstract
Old timber structures often present damaged elements with irregular cross-sections, hidden surfaces and even with loss of material due to decay. Within that scope, in this paper, a new methodology based on the combination of laser scanner and drilling resistance tests is proposed and developed with the aim of analyzing the apparent and resistant sections of timber beams with hidden surfaces and irregular cross-section affected by decay. The proposed methodology was initially calibrated with tests made on a timber beam within a laboratory environment and, then, its feasibility was tested on a case study regarding the timber roof of the Guimaraes Castle keep. The results confirm the suitability of this methodology for assessment of the present geometrical properties of timber elements with an average error of 1.5 and 4.5%, respectively, in the calculation of the apparent section area and inertia.
Highlights
In the large majority of historical buildings, timber was present and used as a construction material
By taking into account the need for a better definition of the cross-section geometry of irregularly shaped timber elements with hidden surfaces and lack of material, the objective of this work is to propose and apply a new methodology based on the combination of laser scanner and drilling resistance that is suitable for onsite applications
From analyzing the results found for laboratory conditions, the use of the combination of laser scanner with drilling resistance tests in relation to the use of only the laser scanner at 45o, can improve the calculation of the apparent area in more than 8% and by more than 15% for the case of moment of inertia
Summary
In the large majority of historical buildings, timber was present and used as a construction material. In the case of old timber elements, roof elements, a large variation on the geometry of the elements’ cross-section may be found as detailed in Lourenço et al [1]. External damage or decay may had led to irregularities in the shape of the cross-sections, locally and along the length of the element. It is common to find timber elements that are not longitudinally straight and even, in some cases, presenting a large deformation or twist. These anomalies are a great obstacle for an onsite assessment when performing a detailed geometrical survey, since it requires more resources and time
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