Effect of Subsequent Interventions on the Structural Behaviour of a Baroque Roof Structure

Abstract

Historical timber roof trusses are statically indeterminate structures with multiple nonlinear properties and therefore possess a considerable capacity for load redistribution. Consequently, simpler linear elastic structural models often fail to adequately describe the actual structural behavior and the resulting damage patterns [1]. In certain cases, however, appropriately selected linear models may still provide acceptable results. In addition to joint stiffness and nonlinear behavior, the investigation of the structure’s load history, the damage accumulated during its service life, and the sequence of interventions carried out over time also significantly influence the current internal force distribution.

This paper presents the effect of load history on internal force distribution through a series of first-order linear elastic finite element models based on the example of an approximately 200-year-old Baroque roof structure. The aim of the research is not to determine the exact load-bearing capacity of the structure, but rather to trace changes in structural behavior by modeling separating joints and the typical interventions observed in the selected roof structure.