Abstract
The sustainable preservation of monuments requires the use of performing materials which are at the same time compatible with the monument’s historical building materials to ensure structural integrity, adequate performance of the structure in earthquake stresses, and resilience of both restoration and historical materials. This is especially true for cultural heritage assets that have experienced major destruction, demanding extensive reconstruction. The Plaka Bridge in Epirus, Greece, partially collapsed after a heavy rainfall in 2015. It was a supreme example of traditional stone bridge architecture of the region and an important landmark. In the present study, a potential restoration stone from a nearby quarry was examined in terms of compatibility in relation to the dominant historical building stone of the bridge, as well as in terms of mechanical performance, through a variety of in lab techniques. In addition, criteria were set for restoration mortars, taking into account the characteristics of the historical materials, as well as the environment of the bridge. The results of the study regarding the restoration stone and mortars are presented and assessed, in order to select the most appropriate restoration materials for Plaka Bridge in its upcoming restoration, aiming to enhance the overall resilience of the structure.
Highlights
Stone bridges are unique structures, built since antiquity throughout the world in order to facilitate transportation through difficult landscape topographies, improving economic and social development of the interconnected areas [1]
Stone Samples’ Description The historical stones under examination correspond to the dominant stone used in the structure (SH1, SH2), addressed as compact historical stone, and a porous stone used as filling material
The historical stones under examination correspond to the dominant stone used in the structure (SH1, SH2), addressed as compact historical stone, and a porous stone used as filling material in many parts (PH1)
Summary
Stone bridges are unique structures, built since antiquity throughout the world in order to facilitate transportation through difficult landscape topographies, improving economic and social development of the interconnected areas [1]. The use of arches for bridge structures was optimized during the Roman era, with the parallel use of pozzolanic mortars to join stones together, it is a technique which has been passed along from early antiquity [2]. Traditional stone bridge construction has gradually declined, with a consequent loss of corresponding know-how and construction technology. Stone arch bridges in particular are in the center of significant scientific research worldwide [1,2,3,4,5]
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