Abstract
Large archaeological wooden structures are potentially at risk of structural failure through deformation and cracking over time if they are left untreated and their structural health is not maintained. This could be in part due to, for example, the shrinkage of waterlogged wood as it dries, or time-dependent creep processes. These dimensional changes are accompanied by associated stresses. However, there are few studies analysing the movement of large wooden structures in real time as they dry, particularly after their conservation treatment. This paper follows the structural monitoring of the Mary Rose from after the conservation treatment, where it was sprayed with polyethylene glycol, through to the ship’s air-drying process and beyond to assess the effects that drying has had on the displacement of the timbers. A laser-based target system was used to collect displacement data between 2013 and 2020 and the data showed a significant slowing of displacement as the drying reached an equilibrium.
Highlights
Evaluating the properties and predicting the dimensional change and movement during the drying of large archaeological wooden structures is very challenging for a number of reasons
The analysis has shown that the ship is predominantly dry and that only limited movement due to drying should be occurring [18]
From the geodetic measurements collected continuously over the years, the aim of this study is to analyse the changes in displacement and displacement rate over the years 2013–2020 to identify any major structural changes in the timbers and to provide a greater understanding of the drying process of large wooden structures that are impregnated with Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Summary
Large archaeological wooden structures are potentially at risk of structural failure through deformation and cracking over time if they are left untreated and their structural health is not maintained This could be in part due to, for example, the shrinkage of waterlogged wood as it dries, or time-dependent creep processes. To ensure the long-term stability of the structure, a conservation process is generally carried out This aims to compensate for lost material, achieve dimensional stability and reduce shrinkage of the marine archaeological wood during drying. This process alters the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the wood, adding to the complexity of understanding it.
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