Historical Structures Research Articles

Preserving Historic Structures: Advancing Conservation Practices Through Building Material Analysis and Mapping

Preserving Historic Structures: Advancing Conservation Practices Through Building Material Analysis and Mapping

Sustainability in the strengthening process of the load-bearing historical structures

Preservation of the load-bearing historical structures represents a common research topic nowadays, as it stands a provocative and difficult task. At the same time, sustainability represents a concept of high interest in the light of recent climate change events, a concept that has become a responsibility in the past years. Safeguarding of the historical buildings with heritage value is an obligation of society to be able to pass on to future generations the historical cultural value of the buildings and the traditional construction techniques on which they were built. Nowadays, many historical buildings are consolidated with modern reversible materials and technologies, without attempting a sustainable consolidation with local traditional materials using the original building techniques and local building materials, which have already proved their effectiveness in the past. This article presents the sustainable consolidation methods proposed to consolidate the historic building of the Villa Abbatis guesthouse in the village of Apos, Sibiu County, Romania. The proposed consolidation techniques use bricks that are manufactured according to traditional method in a recently built brickworks and reuse existing building materials in the building and from abandoned buildings after the departure of ethnic Germans from Romania until 1990. The aim of this paper is to highlight the value of the traditional materials and technologies, that can bring in the retrofitting process not only the assurance of the bearing capacity, but also the preservation of the authenticity and sustainability of the entire process, in a holistic approach.

Seismic evaluation of historical Pertev Pasha Mansion under February 6 Kahramanmaraş (Pazarcık) Earthquake (Mw 7.7)

Historical masonry structures with aesthetic aspects play an important role in cultural heritage. However, such structures are vulnerable to seismic effects. Therefore, periodic maintenance and structural evaluations are required for these structures. In this study, a historical masonry building called the Pertev Pasha Mansion, located in Trabzon, Turkey, was selected for the evaluation. The building was demolished in the last few years and has been planned to be rebuilt in its original form. In the study, the finite element model of the building was created based on reconstruction drawings. Modal analysis was performed to obtain the frequencies and mode shapes of the building. Finally, seismic analyses were conducted based on the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes for two different acceleration records that were collected from different stations, one near the epicenter (Pazarcık station) of the earthquake and the other near the building (Ortahisar station). From the results of the modal analysis, the frequency and mode shapes of the structure were obtained. The displacement and stress results were obtained from the seismic analysis and presented with contour diagrams. At the end of the study, a general evaluation considering the novel Turkish guidelines for historic structures was conducted. According to the results of the seismic analysis performed using the Pazarcık station data, the drift ratio values of the structure exceeded 0.7%, which corresponds to the Collapse Prevention (CP) performance level. However, according to the seismic analysis results obtained using Ortahisar station data, the maximum drift ratio of the structure was 0.001%, corresponding to the Limited Damage (LD) performance level. Consequently, if the building had been built close to the center of the earthquake, it was likely to collapse, but it was estimated that it would have received limited damage because its current location was far from the center of the earthquake.

ULUS’TA ROMA AKSLARINI YENIDEN TANIMLAMAK

Ankara is one of the oldest settlement in Anatolia for different civilizations. Ulus city center and its surroundings were a significant settlement during the Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman periods as well as today. However, despite the cultural and historical background of the city, historical structures before 20th century are not legible in the urban pattern. Today, Roman structures in Ulus are disconnected from each other due to dense buildings and vehicle roads within the developing urban pattern. The traces of Roman which is a significant historical and cultural value of the city cannot be perceived holistically in today's urban pattern. The starting point of study is necessity of reconsidering the historical environment in today's city in order to contribute to the urban identity and maintain the historical-cultural heritage. In this context, traces of Roman era in Ulus are handled. By using maps, photographs, qualitative observations and literature sources, it is aimed to identify the problems in current situation and to integrate and redefine the historical environment with today's urban fabric. Hence, the two main roads of ancient Roman city; cardo maximus and decumanus maximus that were typical elements of Roman urban planning need to be reemerged and redefined in the modern urban fabric. While redefining them, an uninterrupted circulation of pedestrians between the Roman bath, Agustus Temple, Julien Column and amphi theater is aimed. It is suggested to make a cultural and touristic pedestrian route by connecting the Roman structures and this pedestrian route is suggested as a route that can continue to Ankara Castle after the theater and is followed within the different historical layers of the city. The suggested route is starting from Roman places and it connects other historical places from Turks. Historical urban landscapes and ancient roads are passages and thresholds that connects history and present. Thus, walking on these roads different experiences can be gained both while walking and when making a stop. There is also time, space and culture transitions and experiences, with pauses in the monuments and open areas at certain points on the route.

A Low-Cost Method and Surveying of the Historical Structures from Digital Resources

A new method using optics in non-contact photogrammetry to find the dimensions of target objects by digital archive and/or open source digital images has been presented in this paper. In the proposed method, a reference object of known dimension must be present in the field of view of a pair of images collected at any two unknown arbitrary positions along the axis of camera (z-axis) and 2D size measurement (x-y) of other target objects, and it is done successfully with the help of the proposed algorithm. The presented method is applicable to the number of images(>=2) containing the target objects and reference object which are not in the same plane and which may be shot from any camera not known to the user. Hence, the internal and external specifications of the camera are completely unknown to the user. The method has been verified successfully to show its applicability in low-cost surveys by determining the dimensions of the Washington-Monument, Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro) and the Eiffel Tower (Paris) from open source images. Further, an example case of Notre-Dame Cathedral is demonstrated to find the size of the destroyed spire from the undestroyed reference structure. The results are being compared with known standard values of structures and the relative error percentage for all the cases using the proposed algorithm and are found to be less than 1%. The method may find applications in survey or analysis by old digital video footage or images from archive/libraries where the camera specifications are not known to the user.

Seismic assessment and strengthening of a RC building using pushover analysis

Many existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings in moderate to high seismic hazard zones (including old RC buildings and historical structures in Palestine) have inadequate capacity to resist earthquake loads, most of the existing and old buildings were designed and constructed according to earlier codes, which did not satisfy modern seismic design requirements and current engineering standards, as well as other reasons which may also lead to failure such as the faulty structural design and improper construction, alteration of building functions, changes of seismic load characteristics in the area, etc. Procedures of performance-based analysis using nonlinear static analysis (pushover) were used here to study the performance of a proposed RC frame building in different seismic zones in Palestine, the seismic response and performance of these cases were discussed. The results and analyses of the studied cases showed that the proposed steel jacking system managed to avoid the collapse plastic hinges and to reduce displacements and drifts, it was found that the building fulfilled its seismic design criteria after the application of the strengthening strategy.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN «POLITICAL POWER» AND «PSYCHIATRIC POWER» IN THE WORKS OF MICHEL FOUCAULT

The article demonstrates a retrospective analysis of the problem of the formation of the concept of power in the scientific activity of the French philosopher Michel Foucault. The transformational socio-political processes of the postmodern era require a radical rethinking of classical theories and concepts. Foucault proposes to look at historical structures and social phenomena in a new way, to modernize them away from superficial explanations and primitive interpretations revealing hidden and less obvious political mechanisms and their functioning. The problems of the 20th century draw the thinker's attention to a deep rethinking of power and strongly recommends abandoning classical canons in order to avoid social problems in the future. M. Foucault's post-structuralist concept of power proves that the variety of types of power generates not only reality and objects of knowledge, but also the «rituals» of their understanding. Contemporaries point out that the philosopher's writings lack a logical process of understanding a problem, but this is why he attracts not only scientists. Foucault's cognitive process is dynamic and discursive. Having associative thinking, the thinker engaged in a pure search, free from any biased attitude. M. Foucault suggests considering power relations in the broadest context, which includes the following power positions: men to women, parents to children, psychiatrists to mentally ill patients, doctors to patients, and authorities to people's lifestyles. However, the philosopher's most interesting explanation of power is medical power, particularly power in psychiatry. M. Foucault interprets power and knowledge in classical psychiatry, the problems of psychiatry of the 20th century and explains the meaning of mental illnesses from the patient's point of view. While studying at the «Ecole Normale» school, where a unique atmosphere reigned, despite his erudition and organizational skills as a leader, M. Foucault began to experience psychological disorders. This is what provoked the future thinker to investigate the power relations between the psychiatrist and the patient. This paper also examines the philosophical paradigm of the formation of psychiatry and the phenomenon of mental illness. Foucault understands mental disorders as alienation from reality, as a desire to exist in a hostile world. Madness, or alienation in the deep sense of the word, becomes the main problem of anthropology.

Method of arrangement of internal thermal insulation of external protective structures of the room

This article aims to discuss the conditions of insulation and avoidance of moisture condensation in the enclosing structures of buildings whose facades cannot be insulated from the outside due to historical and cultural value. The paper presents a study of the energy-efficient design of the facade of a residential building, which uses insulating materials that are suitable for internal thermal insulation of historical buildings. The analysis of domestic and European literary sources regarding the improvement of the level of thermal protection of buildings shows that the improvement of energy efficiency is important for ensuring a sustainable, affordable and safe energy system. The paper presents the results of a study aimed at increasing energy efficiency in residential buildings, as well as an analysis of the humidity state and the possibility of condensation when using internal insulation. Numerical simulations were performed to confirm the results. The obtained results indicate that the use of mineral insulation "BETOL®" and aluminium foil as a vapour barrier, applied from the inside, contributes to the improvement of thermal insulation of the walls and reduces the risks of condensation. Computer simulations have shown that under the considered conditions, condensation does not occur. The relative humidity in the structure does not reach 90%. The same structure without the vapour barrier causes condensation because the relative humidity exceeds 100 % in whole thickness of the brickwork, which will cause destruction of the historical structure. This research makes an important contribution to the development of energy-efficient solutions for the construction industry, as it will ensure the minimum permissible value of the heat transfer resistance of the enclosing structures and extend the service life of them and buildings as a whole.

Assessment Method of Modern Buildings Constructed in a Historical Area; as a Case Study İMÇ Blocks

The addition of new modern layers to the historic urban settings is a significant issue in conserving the historic area's characteristics. Thus, a method of evaluation for modern buildings built in historical areas is being devel oped. The objective includes assessing the maintenance of the historic area's qualities and designing qualified modern buildings. These two issues were evaluated by assessing the example of İstanbul Drapers and Yard Goods Bazaar, İMÇ blocks. First, historical house settlements in the construction area of İMÇ (1933) and then characteristics of İMÇ blocks (1967) were analyzed. In terms of mass proportions, the position of courtyards, circulation areas, street and square relations, and vistas, site plan organizations from 1933 and 1967 were compared, while the proportions and architectural details of the façades were compared. The assessment criteria for the evaluation of modern buildings and their impact on historical areas were determined based on international preservation standards and charters. The conservation criteria include respecting the qualities, vistas, and landmarks of existing historic structures, being recognizable and reversible, responding to the demands of the area, and providing new views, juxtapositions, and textures. Modern heritage criteria include technical, land use, aesthetic, historical, socioeconomic, intangible, canonical, and reference qualities. As a result, it is seen that the İMÇ blocks were designed in harmony with the environment and increased the spatial quality of the area. Even though the İMÇ blocks are large-scale due to architectural constraints, the orientation of the blocks, the placement of courtyards leading to the Süleymaniye Mosque, and the transverse and longitudinal continuous circulation between the blocks respected historical texture. Despite the size of the masses, their heights and architectural elements are consistent with the traditional house layout.

THE JUDICIAL RULINGS PERTAINING TO THE HAGIA SOPHIA IN TURKEY AND THE BABRI MOSQUE IN INDIA: An Analysis

<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court of India issued a ruling allowing for the construction of a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Ram on the site of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttara Pradesh. Similarly, on July 10, 2020, the State of Council, the highest administrative court in Turkey, issued an order to convert the status of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque. The court's decision in both nations has been regarded as a transformative political development within their respective contexts. This decision has garnered praise from certain individuals, while also attracting criticism from others, both domestically and internationally. This article is thematically based, library-focused, and qualitative. The article examines and evaluates both cases based on the existing evidence pertaining to the historical structures, and endeavours to propose the most persuasive perspective to adopt in such situations. The study's findings suggest that the judicial decision under scrutiny exhibits a greater inclination towards political considerations rather than rational ones.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Hagia Sophia, Babri Mosque, Judicial Rulings, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Narendra Modi</p>

Effect of Textile Reinforced Mortar components on the mechanical behavior of historical masonry structures under cyclic loading

Masonry structures without reinforcement are generally considered unsuitable in seismically active areas due to their poor performance as a bracing system.Historical masonry is particularly affected by this issue. The need to find solutions to this problem has attracted the interest of the scientific community to preserve this cultural heritage.Textile reinforced mortar (TRM) has proven his efficiency to reinforce masonry structures and various researches have investigated this concept of reinforcement in the case of diagonal compression tests. Despite this, several parameters must be studied in order to optimize this reinforcement technique in boundary conditions close to seismic situation.The study presented here aimed at assessing the effect of varying the mesh size of the textile and the orientation of its threads in strengthening historical masonry constructions with testing conditions similar to those of an earthquake (cyclic tests). It also aimed to assess the influence of varying lime mortar on the reinforcement performance by using two different limes in the TRM reinforcement.The principal additional knowledge of the present work is to point out the effect of mesh orientation and mesh opening in terms of dissipated energy and in terms of delaying the debonding time of TRM (a longer time for the multidirectional EQ grid) which is the main issue in the case of TRM structural reinforcement.An increase in peak load (+110 % for RW-EQ-L2) and in the dissipated energy (+200 % for RW-EQ-L2) were hence observed during the tests. These results provide valuable information about masonry walls strengthening and repair for the scientific community.

Research on 18th-Century Building Structures in Terms of Static Scheme Changes.

The evaluation of the technical condition of historic buildings that have operated for several hundred years is a complicated issue. Even buildings that are in very poor condition must be checked and assessed in terms of their further repair, strengthening, or compliance with conditions that allow the facility to be safely operated. Most 18th-century buildings have not survived to this day retaining their original arrangements and structural elements. Renovations and repair work in the past were often carried out using materials of uncertain quality, with repair work of different qualities and without detailed analysis or methodology, based only on the experience of the former builders. In historic structures, the character of the work of individual structural elements has often changed due to significant material degradation, the poor quality of repair work, or the loss of adequate support. When load transfers change, internal forces are redistributed, and, as a result, the static scheme changes. This article presents an overview of identified defects affecting the change in static schemes in historical building structures built in the 18th century, using the example of a historic building with a large number of aforementioned defects. The process of assessing the technical condition of the facility is presented, in which non-destructive testing (NDT) methods were used. Detailed computational analyses were carried out for the wooden roof truss structure, which had partially lost its support.

Hyperarousal PTSD and Alcohol Abuse: Inequitable Treatment and Impact of Substance Use Among African American Women

Throughout history Black women have consistently been underrepresented in almost every aspect of society. This article examines the intersection of race, class, gender, and social systems as they relate to hyperarousal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse. Although there is an abundance of literature regarding substance abuse in America, it has been reiterated in previous research that substance abuse in the African American community is severely understudied, with special regard to the misunderstanding of substance use among Black women. Drawing on the Angry Black Woman (ABW) archetype, I analyze historical and current social structures that render Black women especially susceptible to an underdeveloped window of tolerance for stress. The aim of this article is not only to contribute to the lacking body of research for this group, but also to suggest that hyperarousal PTSD serves as a direct determinant for alcohol abuse in African American women.

Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process for Assessing Damage in Old Masonry Buildings: A Case Study

ABSTRACT This study presents an approach using a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process to assist experts during inspection campaigns of old masonry buildings. The approach is developed through a case study on the assessment of damages to old masonry buildings. Fuzzy systems are preferred due to their ability to handle uncertainties by simulating human reasoning during decision-making. The problem is broken down into a hierarchy of 37 criteria and sub-criteria to enable informed decisions. The weights of these criteria are calculated using the FAHP approach, which is commonly used in multi-criteria decision-making. Experts then assign scores to estimate the global score, reflecting the overall damage to the historical structure. This overall level of damage is associated with a colour, indicating the degree of construction degradation. The methodology is illustrated in the assessment of the health condition of the historic monument of Emir Abdelkader’s staff, with results found to be in agreement with those obtained from previous expertise on the historical building. The study concludes that the method adopted is an effective scientific tool that can be of great support to experts in their task of assessing the damage caused to old Masonry buildings.

Containers

“Something for Nothing”, pause containers, container buildings and other interpretations of the category “Containers” were raised for the first time by the XIX Congress of Architecture in Barcelona as a topical problem of the profession. The representation of architecture as a container, when the form does not follow the function at all, and the content actually becomes a replaceable and transformable filling, changes the traditional ideas about the impossibility to transfer the content of a work into another Form.The ideology of hybrid spaces and flexible offices, the need for reconstruction/modernization of historical and industrial buildings and structures, renovation and gentrification of degrading environments and objects give special importance to the discussion of the “container” as an ongoing discourse of the profession.

Tarsus (Mersin) İlçesi ve Yakın Çevresinin Turizme Yönelik Rekreasyonel Peyzaj Potansiyelinin Belirlenmesi

The study conducted an investigation into the effective utilization of Tarsus district's historical and cultural assets in Mersin province, with a focus on its tourism potential. The primary objectives were to promote the region and contribute to its economic, social, and cultural advancement. A survey was administered to gather information on dominant tourism types in Tarsus, including historical sites, cultural landmarks, local crafts, cuisine, caves, camping, wildlife, flora, gastronomy, local resources, natural attractions, and aesthetics. The results highlighted Tarsus' prominence due to its cultural heritage, historical structures, and natural wealth. Despite Tarsus's cultural diversity and tourism potential, the study revealed its current underrepresentation and various challenges, including the vulnerability of historical assets, insufficient infrastructure, and unguided utilization. The study suggests adopting a sustainable approach that balances conservation with utilization to address these issues and help Tarsus attain the recognition it rightfully deserves in the field of recreation and tourism.

Mechanical properties of ancient wood structural elements assessed by visual and machine strength grading

The maintenance of historic wooden structures requires the assessment of the timber elements that compose them. The accurate knowledge of their mechanical performance is a fundamental aspect to guarantee conservation, safety, and usability. In this work, the assessment of the mechanical properties of timber was done by visual and machine strength grading. The visual grading rule developed for new wooden products was applied, as well as that established by the Italian standard for historic load-bearing structures. Machine grading was also performed by simulating the procedures applicable to the dismantled or in situ elements. The strength and stiffness values expected according to the different strength grading procedures were compared with the values obtained from destructive tests. As a result of visual grading, the modulus of elasticity was in line with the provisions of the standardization, while the characteristic strength was lower. With machine grading the yields were lower, but the characteristic strength values of the classes were respected, especially if combined with a visual inspection rejecting decayed or damaged pieces. The modulus of elasticity, however, was higher than that of the class, thus being underestimated.

Biocrusts protect the Great Wall of China from erosion

The Great Wall of China, one of the most emblematic and historical structures built by humankind throughout all of history, is suffering from rain and wind erosion and is largely colonized by biocrusts. However, how biocrusts influence the conservation and longevity of this structure is virtually unknown. Here, we conducted an extensive biocrust survey across the Great Wall and found that biocrusts cover 67% of the studied sections. Biocrusts enhance the mechanical stability and reduce the erodibility of the Great Wall. Compared with bare rammed earth, the biocrust-covered sections exhibited reduced porosity, water-holding capacity, erodibility, and salinity by 2 to 48%, while increasing compressive strength, penetration resistance, shear strength, and aggregate stability by 37 to 321%. We further found that the protective function of biocrusts mainly depended on biocrust features, climatic conditions, and structure types. Our work highlights the fundamental importance of biocrusts as a nature-based intervention to the conservation of the Great Wall, protecting this monumental heritage from erosion.

Assessment of seismic behavior of historical masonry cupolas: Case of Emir Saltuk Cupola

The protection of historical masonry structures against earthquakes requires a comprehensive understanding of their nonlinear behavior; including damage and collapse mechanisms. Throughout history and in present times, these structures have undergone multiple strengthening interventions to enhance their seismic resilience. In this context, the utilization of nonlinear analysis on 3D finite element models has become a common and reliable approach. This article focuses on the seismic performance of historical Emir Saltuk Cupola of Erzurum city which is recognized as a cultural asset by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of the Republic of Türkiye. Emir Saltuk Cupola is a rare work built in the 12th century as a monumental grave for the founder of Saltuklu Government. The study specifically examines the impact of a reinforced concrete pulley and dome, previously added to the cupola for the purposes of seismic strengthening, on its seismic behavior, force-displacement capacity, and collapse mechanism. Determining the seismic behavior of the structure is aimed to create an important reference for cupola structures, which are frequently encountered in the Turkish-Islamic geography. Notably, this study marks the first instance where advanced numerical simulation methods have been employed to analyses the cupola. Additionally, no prior research has been conducted to assess the propagation of damage and collapse mechanisms within this type of structure. Finite element model of the structure was developed considering the architectural characteristics of the cupola. The model was calibrated based on the findings of operational modal analysis. Nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed using ground motion records from significant earthquakes, including the 1992 Erzincan, 1995 Kobe and 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, to study the seismic behavior and collapse mechanisms of the cupola. The study evaluated the reinforced concrete pulley and dome in terms of maximum principal strains, maximum displacements, crack distributions, and failure mechanisms of the cupola. The reinforced concrete elements added to the structure in previous years, while assisting in a significant increase in strength capacity, did not contribute significantly to displacement capacity of the masonry. Additionally, it has been determined that under strong ground motions, these elements completely alter the collapse mechanism of the structure, leading to damage in the reinforced concrete elements and thus helping to prevent complete collapse. The findings highlight the substantial impact that strengthening interventions may be altering the seismic behavior of historical structures. Overall, this research contributes to our understanding of the seismic performance of historical masonry cupolas and emphasizes the importance of accurately assessing their behavior through advanced numerical simulations which are supported by in-situ experimentation.

THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING IN PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ART WORKS VIA VIRTUAL RESTORATION

Abstract. Artifacts including paintings, drawings, prints, mosaics, sculptures, historical structures and monuments, as well as archaeological sites present a key part of our cultural heritage. It consists of Intangible culture (such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge), tangible culture (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, archival materials, books, works of art, and artifacts), and natural heritage (such as biodiversity and culturally significant landscapes) .Now we will concentrate on tangible culture and its problems and how to handle them. One of its biggest problems is that over the years the nature of the materials used in the creation of the artwork make them prone to cracks, fractures, stains, and colors fading and blurring. The causes of their damage could be of natural or human- related reasons. The natural causes range from war, fires, earthquakes, natural disasters and the human-related causes range from accidental events like to pollution which results of climate changes, which like acid rain. It is a must to consider the environment in which you store your artwork. Our regular environment's light, heat, moisture, and pollution levels can lead to harmful chemical and physical reactions in artwork. There are several reasons why it is necessary to preserve ancient works of art. The fact that it enables us to comprehend the historical and cultural context of the era in which it was made is one of the key factors. Then preserving our artworks is a must and this can be done by manual techniques or using machine learning algorithms.