Numerical modeling of a church nave wall subjected to differential settlements: soil-structure interaction, time-dependence and sensitivity analysis

Historic masonry structures are particularly sensitive to differential soil settlements. These settlements may be caused by deformable soil, shallow or inadequate foundation, structural additions in the building and changes in the underground water table due to the large-scale land use change in urb...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Drougkas, Anastasios|||0000-0002-8647-9993, Verstrynge, Els, Szekér, Pepijn, Heirman, Gert, Bejarano Urrego, Leidy, Giardina, Giorgia, Van Balen, Koen
Format: article
Publication Date:2019
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/383778
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/383778
https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2019.1602682
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Finite element method
Masonry
Historic buildings
Soil-structure interaction
Structural engineering
Historic structures
Finite element modeling
Settlement-induced damage
Enginyeria d'estructures
Edificis històrics
Interacció sòl-estructura
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil
Description
Summary:Historic masonry structures are particularly sensitive to differential soil settlements. These settlements may be caused by deformable soil, shallow or inadequate foundation, structural additions in the building and changes in the underground water table due to the large-scale land use change in urban areas. This paper deals with the numerical modeling of a church nave wall subjected to differential settlement caused by a combination of the above factors. The building in question, the church of Saint Jacob in Leuven, has suffered extensive damage caused by centuries-long settlement. A numerical simulation campaign is carried out in order to reproduce and interpret the cracking damage observed in the building. The numerical analyses are based on material and soil property determination, the monitoring of settlement in the church over an extended period of time and soil-structure interaction. A sensitivity study is carried out, focused on the effect of material parameters on the response in terms of settlement magnitude and crack width and extent. Soil consolidation over time is considered through an analytical approach. The numerical results are compared with the in-situ observed damage and with an analytical damage prediction model.