Evaluating the pathology and safety of the historic structures: The big picture vs. usual delusions

Papadopoulos C. (2021). Evaluating the pathology and safety of the historic structures: The big picture vs. usual delusions. in Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Protection of Historical Constructions (PROHITECH 2020), 25-27 October, 2021, Athens, Greece.

Abstract | The History of the Theory of Structures provides many examples of subtle approaches to the evaluation of emblematic historic structures. The three mathematicians (Le Seur, Jacquier & Boscovich) and G. Poleni (1748) aptly overcame the problem of the cracked dome in the Saint Peter’s Basilica. On the contrary, C-L. Navier failed to prevent the demolition (1826) of the suspension bridge in the area of Les Invalides. Decoding the pathology, but especially the safety of historic structures, remains a difficult question for the structural engineer. The performance-based approaches, coupled usually with the limit analysis tools, reveal the big picture to the structural engineer, freeing him/her from usual delusions and common setbacks.