Volume 21, Issue 4-6 -

This research outlines a case study for the structural rehabilitation of a historic masonry arch bridge. The major part of the railway bridge was destroyed due to high flood. The remaining parts were evaluated from structural point of view. A detailed investigation for the historic and current state of the bridge was performed. A precise description for the structural system, main elements, method of construction, materials used, and internal component was done. Also, 3D finite element analysis was conducted for the proposed rehabilitated bridge in order to identify the level of internal stresses in different structural components of the arch bridge under the effect of dead loads, live loads, wind loads, seismic loads, water flow rate, and temperature changes. The results of the finite element modeling together with the structural studies and investigations were used to develop structural guidelines for the rehabilitation project taking into account the proposed new usage as a historic walkway and the hydrological requirements as a structure over flood flow channel.

One of the key deterioration factors for porous inorganic building materials are soluble salts. To be able to remediate or mitigate this problem it is fundamental to understand the principal processes governing their behavior. While the actual mechanisms involved in these processes are still under study, the deterioration can be mitigated or remediated by the long practical experience gained in the field. The paper aims to provide an overview of the basic principles that rule the interaction of salts with the porous inorganic material. Understanding these will allow the development of appropriate procedures to control the deterioration process.

In heritage conservation, a gap is often observed between the theory of conservation as a durable process that aims at the preservation of a historic building and the practice of restoration as a single intervention that aims at a fast and convincing result. This paper describes the proposed approach for the conservation of the main façade of the Shoemakers Chapel (in Dutch: Schoenmakerskapel) in Antwerp (Belgium), a listed monument since 1976. It serves as an example of how to develop a durable and realistic approach for the conservation of a sixteenth century façade. The basis for the conservation approach is the understanding that each intervention should take the stratified significance of the historic façade into account. In this paper, it will be shown how to combine a study of the façade from a technical point of view with an analysis of the façade as a carrier of cultural significance.

The study of microstructure formation in polymer-cement concrete provides opportunities to exploit synergetic actions between cement and polymer, leading to performance improvement and to a wide range of new and innovative properties and applications. Polymers can reduce the impact of construction industry on environment, by decreasing the carbon footprint of cement and concrete production. Renovation and restoration, largely figuring in the concept of sustainable construction development, thank their growing share in construction activity to the input of polymers in repair and binder materials and in rehabilitation procedures. The study of ancient binders and mortars reveals aspects of the origins of the observed long lasting durability of those ancient mortars. It also reveals the interaction mechanisms between carbonation of air hardening components and hydration of hydraulic components, which in turn helps to develop chemical activation methods (i.e. alkaline activation) to improve the hydraulic properties of pozzolans and industrial residues to develop inorganic polymers (i.e. geopolymers) for eventually full replacement of cement in binders.