The Historic Materials and Structures Due to the Aspect of Their Actual Challenges

Materials (Basel). 2023 Mar 13;16(6):2302. doi: 10.3390/ma16062302.

Abstract

The subject of the article is to assess the suitability of over materials over a hundred years old that are embedded in historic building structures in conditions of contemporary utility challenges in residential and public buildings. It is based on an example of technical condition evaluation of a ceramic staircase erected in 1840 and a structure of two reinforced concrete staircases from the year 1910. As a part of in-situ and laboratory tests, the physical and mechanical parameters of unique historical materials (brick, concrete) were determined. Then the conditions for their incorporation were inventoried and determined in order to save the unique material and technical solutions used in the first half of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century. The article is a summary of the research and analyzes carried out in terms of proper handling of historical materials, buildings and their elements that could still fulfill their original function and be a witness to the history of a certain era. Both a research case and an application case are described here. It will allow for the continuation of these studies directly in the facility, thus assessing the effectiveness and suitability of such methods for use in similar or other situations. The aim of this approach was to introduce a non-invasive reinforcing technique that would not change the valuable and authentic appearance of these historic structures. It would also not change their static schemes, and at the same time would ensure their proper load-bearing capacity, bearing in mind that the materials used here are not equivalent to current regulations and standards.

Keywords: buildings diagnostics; concrete/ceramic staircases; historic buildings; in-situ/laboratory tests; physical/mechanical parameters; staircases exploitations.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.