Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding capabilities:
At the end of the course, the student will have a wide and critical view on the methods and techniques for the knowledge of historical masonry structures and of their vulnerabilities, as well as of the instruments for their static and seismic strengthening, aimed at their conservation.
Proficiency:
At the end of the course the student will be able to identify all the metrological, material, structural, pathological aspects which characterize a historical building and to assume the mas a base for the design of its strengthening.
Independent judgment:
The student will have to develop the capability of evaluating critically the conservation status of a historical masonry structure, identifying the most suitable strengthening techniques for the specific case, looking for an equilibrium between conservation, safety and functionality. Moreover, the student will be able to interpret and assess the quality of any restoration and strengthening design.
Communication skills:
During the course, the student will improve its correctness of speech, with specific reference to the technical terms of strengthening, in order to communicate in an effective and precise way their design.
Learning ability:
The materials and the techniques for the strengthening of historical building change continuously. Therefore the student must be able to select, once the problem has been identified, the most suitable intervention, even evaluating options not specifically explained during the course.
Prerequisites
It is helpful if students have previously acquired the base knowledge of restoration theories and of historical building elements: for those who didn’t attend courses on these subjects, a specific autonomous preparation is suggested, reading books suggested by the teacher.
It is also useful to have some knowledge of computer aided design (e.g. Autocad), spreadsheet (e.g. Excel) and multimedia presentations (e.g. Powerpoint, Canva).
Course unit content
The course is organized in two parts: a theoretical one and an applied one.
The theoretical part is focused on the following subjects:
1.Basic concepts: restoration, conservation, strengthening
2.The normative system
3.The knowledge path
4.Art and science of building
5.Timber structural elements
6.Masonry structural elements
7.Arches, vaults and domes
8.Seismic and structural strengthening
9. Strengthening examples
The applied part foresees the restoration and strengthening design of a real historical building.
In the first period, the students will make surveys (divided in groups) on their case studies, in order to acquire the knowledge level needed to define the interventions, later designed in detail.
Full programme
Bibliography
- Pere Roca, Paulo Lourenço, Angelo Gaetani, Historic Construction and Conservation: Materials, Systems and Damage, Routledge
- M. Forsyth (Ed.), «Structures & Construction in Historic Building Conservation», Blackwell.
- Heyman J., «The Stone Skeleton: Structural Engineering of Masonry Architecture», Cambridge University Press
- Como M., «Statics of masonry constructions", Springer
- Italian technical codes
- course slidea on elly
Teaching methods
The course is composed of traditional lectures (taught class), also with Powerpoint presentations, and reviews. The “flipped classroom” teaching technique is also applied, i.e. each group is asked periodically to deepen a subject or apply a concept to a case study and then present them at the following lecture, in order to exercise the communication skills of the students and to exchange and compare experiences among the different groups.
During the course, also some seminars with external lecturers can be held, to inspect more deeply specific issues.
For the applied part, the students will be divided in groups (2 to 4 people). Each group will develop a restoration and strengthening design on a real historical building and will be followed by the teacher with periodic reviews. The reviews are made in groups, on printed material prepared by the students.
Assessment methods and criteria
The active participation to the flipped classroom assignments, will allow a first evaluation of the correctness of speech and of the communicative skills.
These intermediate checks, although are not directly linked to the final grades, are in any case fundamental to demonstrate the profitable attendance to the course.
The module does not have a separate evaluation, but the verification is part of the overall final examination of the integrated course.
In order to pass the exam, the student must demonstrate a sufficient preparation in each module composing the integrated course.
Other information
As for all the applied studios, attending the courses is compulsory.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
3, 4, 11, 12
