Ancient Buildings Research Articles

Optical Fiber Sensing-Aided 3D-Printed Replacement Parts for Enhancing the Sensing Ability of Architectural Heritage.

This study discussed the application of optical fibers in addressing the problem of insufficient light harvesting and sensing health monitoring in ancient buildings. Based on three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to fix the light-harvesting lens and conducting optical fiber, develop the replacement parts that can be buried into the optical fiber of ancient buildings. By introducing the experimental application to improve the experimental quality of research and teaching. Firstly, it highlights the advantage that the optical fiber plus lens structure design can make the natural light introduced for a long time; secondly, it points out that the buried optical fiber structure design does not affect the warmth and sound insulation of the building; finally, the health monitoring of the building is realized through the proposed method of buried optical fiber sensing. The design scheme adopts a fiber optic light transmission and sensing system, which can realize the whole system's corrosion resistance, after laying buried and low-cost operation.

The use of a Heritage Building Information Model as an effective tool for planning restoration and diagnostic activities: the example of the Troia Cathedral rose window

The constructive reading of the historical architecture through the study of the published and unpublished sources preserved in the archives, can represent a unique and precious cognitive tool to acquire all fundamental information that constitutes the basis of an aware restoration intervention.Frequently, in case of ancient buildings, reconstruct the complete history of the building is not possible, as the sources are difficult to find, not published or kept in different territorial institutes that are not always easily accessible. The aim of this work is to set up an HBIM (Heritage Building Information Model) system to facilitate the planning of diagnostic and restoration activities by bringing all archive information into a unique digital reference platform, accompanied by three-dimensional models that can be consulted, examined and updated.The creation of the HBIM digital tool for consulting the architectural artefact and related information was only the last phase of this work, which began with: (i) Acquisition of archive sources in order to reconstruct the history of the restoration and renovation work on the monument; (ii) Acquisition of information about the diagnostic analyses and monitoring previously carried out on the monument; (iii) acquisition of data useful for the creation of a digital twin.

Study on the seismic performance of through-tenon joints with pullout tenon gaps between mortise and tenon shoulder

Through-tenon joints are widely used in ancient timber buildings. To study the influence of the gaps between mortise and tenon shoulder on the seismic performance of through-tenon joints, a 1:3.52 scaled model was constructed and used for low cyclic loading test. Finite element analysis was conducted to study the mechanical behavior of the through-tenon joint. The seismic performance parameters of the model such as moment-rotation hysteresis curves, envelope curves, degradation of rigidity, and energy dissipation capacity were compared. The analyses showed similar changing characteristics, which indicated that the finite element analysis results were reliable. Based on the results, 7 through-tenon joint finite element analysis models with different gaps between mortise and tenon shoulder were established. The seismic performance of each of the through-tenon joints with different gaps between mortise and tenon shoulder were studied. The moment-rotation hysteresis curve of the through-tenon joint had an obvious pinching effect, and the through-tenon joint had good rotational loading capacity and good deformation ability. The peak rotational loading capacity, initial stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity of the joint decreased, while the gap between mortise and tenon shoulder increased.

Sustainable Transportation: The Constraints of An Italian Public University

In Italy most Universities are located in the City Centre, often in ancient buildings that are part of the architectural heritage. During the years they developed campuses in peripheral areas, or even in other cities of the region, thus the concept of “shuttle” takes on a special meaning. The sustainable transportation concerns two main issues: the commuting and the connection between the campuses. In both cases Universities in urban or city centre setting must rely on the services offered by the Municipality to all residents for mobility, and to their sustainable policies, that anyway are required by law. Even though the main problems and solutions do not depend directly on the Universities’ policies, the study highlighted some good practices have been produced.

Experimental and theoretical study on seismic behavior of Dou-Gong brackets on column under the load in overhanging and width directions

The distinctive structural construction in the overhanging and width directions of Dou-Gong (DG) bracket in ancient timber buildings results in different seismic performances of the DG. To study the effect of loading direction on the seismic behaviors of the DG bracket, the pseudo-static tests are conducted on two Dou-Gong brackets on column in the overhanging direction (DG-1) and width direction (DG-2), respectively. The failure mode, hysteretic behavior, skeleton curve, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation capacity of the DG are obtained. Besides, the rotational, sliding, and bulging displacements as well as their proportions of DG component’s horizontal displacement are analyzed. In addition, a theoretical model was proposed to calculate the horizontal load of the DG. Results show that the failure modes of DG-1 and DG-2 are rotation and relative slip of DG components, broken of Xiao 1, and embedment of Flat-Beam. DG-1 has a superior bearing capacity, initial stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity compared with DG-2. However, both DGs exhibit good deformation ability and obvious stiffness degradation. The horizontal displacement component of DG-1 increases first and then tends to be stable with the loading displacement, while the component displacement of DG-2 increases gradually. The rotational and sliding displacements of the DG components are significantly larger than the bulging displacement. The higher the DG components, the larger the rotational displacement. The proportion of the component’s sliding displacement is larger than the rotational displacement for DG-1, while the proportion for DG-2 is opposite. The theoretical model for the horizontal load can effectively calculate the bearing capacity of DG brackets.

A Comparison and Combination of Modern and Historical Architecture

Considering the rapid development of today's society, earth-shaking changes have taken place in many areas, and the field of architecture is no exception. More and more new buildings are emerging. Some of them are built with different materials, some are in innovative styles, and some are for diverse uses. People can clearly find the differences between modern buildings and ancient buildings, including the differences in materials, uses, structures, etc. By tracing and analyzing the relationship between ancient architecture and modern architecture, this paper discusses the architectural style, materials, and how to combine the two. It can be concluded that there are differences existing in materials, structures, and space utilization between ancient and modern buildings. Ancient buildings pay attention to beauty and the embodiment of national spirit, but they do not perform well in the fire resistance and the construction period is long. Modern buildings focus on practicality and safety but may allow less daylighting to enter or have other unreasonable designs. Therefore, the materials and styles of ancient buildings and modern buildings can be well integrated to maximize the role of architecture.

Analysis of fire risk and fire prevention of architectural heritage: A case study of mount wutai in China

As precious historical and cultural heritages in China, ancient architecture belongs to non-renewable resources. However, in recent years, fires in ancient buildings occurred from time to time, causing irreparable losses to Chinas precious historical and cultural heritage. In order to explore the existing problems of fire safety in ancient buildings and better prevent fire accidents, this paper starts with an introduction of the structural characteristics of ancient buildings in China, and then, on the premise of combining the characteristics of geographical culture, architectural structure, and materials of Wutai Mountain temple group, the paper also analyzes the fire risk of ancient buildings. According to the practical work experience in fire protection of Mount Wutai, feasible and reasonable fire protection measures of ancient buildings are put forward, including the enhancement of fire resistance of building materials, the related equipment and system, and the safety management, so as to minimize the fire risk and fire loss and achieve the purpose of protecting gorgeous ancient building civilization.

Research on the Activation and Utilization of Ancient Residential Buildings in Huizhou

In recent years, with the attention to traditional culture and the development of tourism, the protection and utilization of ancient residential buildings in Huizhou have gradually become a hot spot in research. Taking Shichun Village in Wuyuan County as a typical case, this study discusses the activation and utilization methods and strategies of Hui style architecture. Through this study, we find that the revitalization and utilization of ancient residential buildings in Huizhou should be strategically renovated and restored in combination with modern needs on the basis of protecting traditional culture, and giving full play to their unique artistic and cultural value. At the same time, the practical case of Shichun Village in Wuyuan County provides an important reference for the activation and utilization of ancient residential buildings. It is hoped that this study will have practical guiding significance for promoting the protection and utilization of ancient residential buildings in Huizhou.

Traces of the Heritage of Rantauprapat Kingdom (Oral History Review)

The Kingdom of Rantauprapat was a small kingdom that initially emerged in the upper reaches of the Bilah River. This research focuses on reconstructing the history of the Rantauprapat Kingdom through the utilization of historical relics found and historical research methods, as well as oral history methods. In particular literature, the starting point of the Rantauprapat kingdom is referred to as Poeldung. It is estimated that this kingdom existed from the late 18th century to the early 19th century, and it is known that the founder, named Patuan Bolatan, originated from Toba and was laid to rest behind the Sioldengan Village Castle housing. The existence of this kingdom became more evident during the reign of Patuan Bolatan's son, King Muda, around the mid-19th century. This was marked by the construction of the Palace in Sibuaya, formerly known as "Lobu in Bendahara Street," which has left a legacy as an ancient tomb complex. The existence of this kingdom subsequently extended from the king's residence on Padi Street to the relics of shop houses with ancient building typology on Pasar Lama Street and Veteran, as well as a tomb belonging to the last king of Rantauprapat, located in the Paindoan TPU complex

Retracted: 3D Reconstruction and Intelligent Digital Conservation of Ancient Buildings Based on Laser Point Cloud Data

Retracted: 3D Reconstruction and Intelligent Digital Conservation of Ancient Buildings Based on Laser Point Cloud Data

Application of 3-D Ground Laser Scanning Technology to Measure The Scenic Spot of The Best Spring in the World

This paper introduces the main types of 3-D ground laser scanners in the field of surveying and mapping, provides a technical scheme of applying 3-D laser scanning technology to measure ancient buildings in scenic spots, and uses the pulsed 3-D laser scanner which can transmit and receive infinite echoes to solve the problem that vegetation in the surveying area seriously blocks buildings. As an example, the feasibility of the proposed technical scheme is confirmed and the reliability of the proposed technical scheme is demonstrated by precision verification experiments at the scenic spot of the best spring in the world.

Numerical simulation and diagnosis geotechnical parameters of historical buildings in Najran City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This research aims to assess geoenvironmental risks and identify the primary deterioration drivers in ancient buildings in Najran City, utilizing various analytical tools to help make informed judgments. The samples extruded from historical buildings were examined using field inspection, experimental data, SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses, in addition to lab and field observations and meteorological data. The dissolution of clay minerals and salt crystallization are the key contributors to the degradation and cracking of historical buildings in Najran City, according to lab and field observations. When the daytime high temperature surpasses 44 °C, wind erosion and humidity might cause continuous wetting–drying cycles on the investigated building surfaces. Test results indicated that the average unconfined compressive strength of the extruded earthen wall samples was 2 MPa and the water absorption was within the upper allowed limit (i.e., 15%). A finite element model of a typical earthen historical building was developed using PLAXIS 3D software to assess the behavior and nonlinear response of the silty sand soil layer underlying the building and the earthen historical buildings themselves using a plastic material model. The field observations confirm the results of the simulation, which clearly explained the failure mechanism. The integrated geotechnical and numerical simulations could provide insights for assessing geoenvironmental risks, identify the primary deterioration drivers in ancient buildings, and provide an understanding of material qualities and failure causes not only in the studied area but in other similar regions elsewhere.

Study on mechanical properties of poplar timber bending members of ancient buildings strengthened with CFRP sheets embedded

The reduction of the section area of timber beams in ancient buildings leads to the decline of their flexural mechanical properties. In order to study the effect of the reinforcement method with near-surface mounted CFRP sheets, three groups of 14 scaled poplar timber beam specimens were designed for static loading tests, and the strengthening effects of the new members replacing the damaged members and the concealed CFRP sheets strengthening the damaged members were compared. The results show that the ultimate flexural capacity and flexural stiffness of the strengthened timber beams are significantly improved compared with the simulated damaged beams; the bending performance of the optimum strengthened timber beam is equivalent to that of the undamaged beam. The distribution of the section strain of the strengthened timber beam along the height of the beam section basically conforms to the plane section assumption. A formula for calculating the ultimate flexural capacity of poplar timber beams strengthened with CFRP sheets is proposed. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Chemical Compositions of Chinese Glazed Tiles from an Imperial Mausoleum of the Liao Dynasty

Glazed tiles are characteristic architectural ceramics traditionally used in ancient Chinese royal buildings. Studies on their chemical compositions have provided valuable information regarding their compositional classifications and the provenances of their raw materials. Existing studies have mainly focused on the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD) or later. Research on earlier ages is limited because of a lack of samples. In this study, we used an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to analyze the chemical compositions of 18 glazed tiles unearthed from an imperial mausoleum (the Xinli site) from the Liao dynasty (969–982 AD). The glazes of the tiles had a SiO2–Al2O3–PbO ternary oxidic system and the bodies of the tiles had a SiO2–Al2O3 binary oxidic system. Certain compositional differences were observed among the samples with different types of decorations. Compared with samples from the Yuan dynasty and later periods, the Xinli samples had higher SiO2 and Al2O3 contents and lower PbO and CuO contents in the tile glazes. The tile bodies of the Xinli samples had compositions similar to those of tile bodies from the Qing dynasty (1616–1912 AD). We speculated that the Xinli samples with different decorations came from different kiln sites.

Use of Organic Dyes to Color the Metakaolin‐Based Geopolymer: A Physico‐Chemical Characterization

AbstractGeopolymers or inorganic aluminosilicate polymers have attracted great interest for their high versatility. The use of geopolymers for cultural heritage restoration purposes is mainly related to ancient buildings. No cases in the literature report the synthesis of colored geopolymers for painting or mosaic restoration. In this preliminary study, the suitability to synthesize colored geopolymers is investigated by the use of organic pH indicator solutions as dyeing agents for white metakaolin‐based geopolymers cured at 25 °C and aged for 56 days. The physicochemical properties are analyzed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), pH, ionic conductivity (IC), integrity, and weight loss tests.

Research on standardization and quantitative extraction of information of ancient building components based on BIM

Abstract The standardization and quantitative extraction of component information are accomplished by establishing an information model of ancient buildings. Based on BIM technology, i.e., model visualization, virtual simulation and BIM-related software, this paper combines the dimensional types of components to realize the parameterization settings of components and further designs the information structure of ancient building components. The standardization rate, repetition rate, repeatability coefficient, and standardization coefficient of the components were calculated by quantitative methods, followed by the determination of standardized components and the quantitative extraction of component attribute features based on the BIM model map. Based on the standardization of the information of the five-room, nine-purlin-hipped ancient building members based on BIM, the spatial location of the ancient building members was determined with the following parameters: bucket size 32.5 mm, eaves height 2180 mm, net height 1802.8 mm, and side legs 23.1 mm. BIM application provides a new way of thinking for archiving and protecting ancient architectural data.

Chinese wooden architecture. From historical traditions to modern design

The building traditions of China go back to the deep past. Wood as a building material helped to withstand many natural disasters, and also provided a high speed of construction. The valleys of the Huang He and Yangtze rivers, where Chinese civilization originated, are rich in vegetation. First of all, it is bamboo, which was widely used for the construction of ancient residential buildings. With the development of building technologies, wood, like bamboo, has become the most common material for building not only residential buildings, but also temples. The basis of Chinese structures is dominated by the frame system, since it is the most resistant to earthquakes and floods. Geographic location also played a role in shaping the structure of the residential building. All constructive solutions of Chinese architecture were preserved by builders for several thousand years. The question arises: are there any modern trends in traditional construction?

MODERN ARCHITECTURAL APPROACHES TO SMART CITIES AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

Introduction: This article aims to provide readers with an overview of significant modern architectural approaches to creating sustainable smart city models. Different architectural approaches have piqued the interest of many researchers that study ancient and modern buildings, specifically their characteristics and execution methods. Purpose of the study: Interest toward smart architecture has grown due to the extensive development of technology and its integration into all aspects of human and city life, including the learning environment, the psychological effect of various spaces, and environmental impact. Methods: Architects, designers, engineers, and psychologists alike must consider these key developments and choose approaches to spaces and buildings that properly reflect the smart building philosophy. Many case studies have been adopted in the current investigation. Results: Over the recent years, due to the increasing strain of real estate demands, which led to overcrowding in cities, the need to find the most suitable housing solutions has emerged as a key problem. Architects and researchers are considering the best modern architectural approaches to building a sustainable model for smart cities.

The influence of the bricks and mortar characteristics, paint, and salts on the rising damp of historic masonries through hygrothermal simulation

Rising damp is a complex phenomenon influenced by heat and moisture transfers and building characteristics. Essentially, rising damp is one of the main mechanisms of the degradation of masonry structures. In general, masonries are affected by the humidity presence due to their materials and local construction techniques. In the case of ancient Brazilian constructions, the high porosity of mortars and bricks, waterproofing lack, and the presence of salts can intensify the degradation mechanism. Thus, this paper has as the main aim to assess the influence of several factors on the rising damp in heritage masonry, such as the thickness of the bricks, the thickness and mortar composition, the type of paint, and the presence of salts. Long-term numerical analyses were performed using computational simulation in the WUFI 2D software, taking as reference the materials properties of the Luso-Brazilian of the Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church, dating from the 18th century, located in Aracati, in the State of Ceará, Brazil. The results showed that the variation of the factors considered in this study directly influences the rising damp, except for the thickness of the mortar. This study contributes to the understanding of the factors that influence the rising damp mechanism while being helpful to support strategies for rising damp treatment on ancient buildings.

Proposal of a Protocol for the Safe Removal of Post-Earthquake Provisional Shorings

The recent seismic events in Italy, including the earthquakes in L’Aquila in 2009 and central Italy in 2016, have significantly impacted the historical centers of small and medium-sized cities. These events directly affected their ancient masonry building heritage, resulting in severe damage. In order to minimize the risk of collapses and prevent further harm to people and structures until restoration efforts can be carried out, provisional post-seismic shorings have been extensively employed. These occurrences motivated several studies focused on the selection and assembly of post-seismic shorings, considering the various rigid failure mechanisms that may occur in a wall or section of an ancient masonry building. Yet, thus far, the critical considerations concerning the disassembly of these shorings, which significantly influence the repair process of a compromised structure from safety, organizational, and economic perspectives, have been overlooked. This research endeavors to establish a protocol for the dismantling of provisional shorings. To this end, a preliminary risk assessment tool has been devised, furnishing a safety index that correlates with the level of risk associated with shoring removal, along with corresponding risk categories. The study recommends preliminary interventions, categorized as mandatory or optional, to mitigate the risk prior to shoring removal. Furthermore, specific guidelines are provided based on the assessed risk level indicated by the safety index. To illustrate the application of this risk assessment tool, a case study involving an ancient masonry building in L’Aquila is presented.