Abstract
This paper presents a preliminary finite element model in Strand7 software to analyse creep and shrinkage effects on the prestressed concrete ribs of the Sydney Opera House as remarkable heritage. A linear static analysis was performed to investigate the instantaneous impacts of dead and wind loads on the complex concrete structure which was completed in 1973. A quasistatic analysis was performed to predict the effects of creep and shrinkage due to dead load on the structure in 2050 to discern its longevity. In 2050, the Sydney Opera House is expected to experience 0.090% element strain due to creep and shrinkage and therefore suffer prestress losses of 32.59 kN per strand. However, given that the current time after prestress loading is approximately 50 years, the majority of creep and shrinkage effects have already taken place with 0.088% strain and 32.12 kN of prestress losses. The analysis concludes that very minor structural impacts are expected over the next 30 years due to creep and shrinkage, suggesting a change in conservation focus from large structural concerns to inspection and maintenance of minor issues of surface cracking and water ingress. The analysis is the first step in the application of more complex finite element modelling of the structure with the integration of complex building information models. The main motivation to undertake the current numerical simulation is to determine a cost-effective solution when it comes to the long-term time-dependent analysis. The paper also will suggest future directions for monitoring unique historical buildings, including ‘digital twin’.
Highlights
Heritage buildings contribute to cultural identity for future generations, and to economies by supporting the tourism industry
Quasistatic analysis provides a preliminary insight into the impacts on the Sydney Opera House leading up to 2050 and beyond, showing the structure’s design future for the development of potential conservation solutions and the requirement to include building information modelling in finite element analysis software
The total stress losses experienced in the pretensioned cables of the Sydney Opera House result from strains in concrete ribs undergoing axial shortening from long-term creep and shrinkage, which in turn induces strain in the steel due to the compatibility of the steel–concrete connection, demonstrated in the Strand7 contour outputs in Figures 6 and 9
Summary
Heritage buildings contribute to cultural identity for future generations, and to economies by supporting the tourism industry. In 2014, research into an automated system for the inspection of structural elements was initiated by the University of Sydney in collaboration with Arup, funded by the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern grant program [6] demonstrate the cooperation of this research with the implementation of Building Information Modelling of the Opera House to catalogue each section of its complex concrete structure, with the intention of producing an element-specific, structural conservation management plan. Quasistatic analysis provides a preliminary insight into the impacts on the Sydney Opera House leading up to 2050 and beyond, showing the structure’s design future for the development of potential conservation solutions and the requirement to include building information modelling in finite element analysis software
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