Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions - Modena, Lourenço & Roca (eds)
© 2005 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 04 1536 379 9
Prevision of settlement-induced cracking in historical building
masonry façades
J.G. Rots
Delft University ofTechnology, Delft, The Netherlands
S. Invernizzi
Politecnico di Torino, Torino, /taly; visiting researchf ellow Delft University ofTechnology
ABSTRACT: In the present paper lhe case study of an historical masonry building is presented in order
to assess the settlement-induced cracking due to recent underground tunneling. A comprehensive numerical
analysis is carried out in the framework of classical nonlinear smeared crack models. The building structure
is analyzed by modeling the most important 20 sections, respectively parallel and orthogonal to the tunnel
trace. The results obtained from the numerical simulation allow assessing the criticai angular distortion after
which some mitigation countermeasures are necessary to avoid the faça de cracking. This value can be compared
with the expected one, as well as with results provided by real-time monitoring during the tunnel excava-
tion. A future development of the study could be directed to assess the effectiveness of possible structural
strengthening.
INTROOUCTlON
The "Industrieele" (Industrial) Club was founded in
April 1913 as a centre owing to serve the growing
needs of Outch industry and trade in the Netherlands.
It was a national society with headquarters in the capi-
tal, Amsterdam. It was quickly apparent that important
business was best conducted in the proper and refined
surroundings and so during the three years that fol-
lowed, the impressive building "Industria" on Oam
Square (No 27) gradually took shape by the architect
Foeke Kuipers designo
Initially, there were problems with the foundations.
The excavations stumbled on the remains of a disused
sluice, which had originally been built in the 13th cen-
tury, after the dam across the Amstel river had been
constructed. Ali the complicated construction in the
centuries previous to the foundation ofIndustria meant
the builders had a difficult task ahead of them. The
floor of sluice was no longer supported by poles, these
having sunk under their own weighl. Oespite ali these
setbacks, as well as a builder's strike lasting 6 months,
and the start of the First World War, the building was
finished on the 8th of January 1916.
Nowadays, the building is going to be interested
by the new underground line tunneling that will be
traced nearby. Therefore, a reliable assessment of the
settlement-induced damage due to the Tunnel Boring
Figure I. View of lhe Industria building from the Dam
square in Amsterdam.
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