E.D. Pasiou

Interconnected Epistyles of Marble Monuments Under Axial Loads

The restoration of destroyed connections of epistyles joined together by means of metallic connectors is among the most difficult problems encountered by scientists working for the conservation/restoration of monuments made of marble. The complexity of the geometry and the interaction of three completely different materials (metal-filling material-marble) constituting the connection render the study (either experimental or analytic) extremely complicated. In this direction a numerical analysis is presented here in order to deeply understand the response of a typical ancient connection subjected to axial loads as well as to quantify the influence of some geometric parameters on its response. The parameters studied include the length of the connector, the width of its flanges, the depth of the groove (mortise), the existence or not of relieving space and the filling material’s volume. The numerical model was calibrated and validated according to the results of an earlier experimental study realized on the worksite of the Parthenon Temple. It was concluded that the interventions required to relieve the stress field by changing the size of the connector are disproportional to the respective positive effect on the response of the connection. Moreover it was proved that the most beneficial parameter is the relieving space.

Acoustic Emissions versus Pressure Stimulated Currents during bending of restored marble epistyles: Preliminary results

The efficiency of two modern sensing techniques, namely the “Acoustic Emissions” and the “Pressure Stimulated Currents” ones, when they are used as Continuous Structural Health Monitoring tools, is assessed experimentally. The protocol includes multi-point bending of an accurate copy of a fractured marble epistyle of the Parthenon’s Temple on the Acropolis of Athens, under a scale of 1:3. The integrity of the epistyle is restored with three pairs of bolted titanium bars, according to the pioneering technique developed by the scientists of the “Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments”. The data provided by the above techniques are considered in juxtaposition to each other and also in comparison to data provided by the “Digital Image Correlation” technique. It is concluded that, at least from a qualitative point of view, the data of all three techniques are in good mutual agreement. Combined exploitation of the various sets of experimental data enlightens interesting aspects concerning the succession of failure mechanisms activated during the loading procedure, revealing the critical role of the internal interfaces characterizing the restored epistyle. Moreover it is definitely indicated that both the “Acoustic Emissions” and the “Pressure Stimulated Currents” techniques provide clear signs of upcoming failure well before macroscopically visible damages are detected at the external surface of the specimen.

Mechanical response of marble epistyles under shear: numerical analysis using an experimentally validated model

Abstract The mechanical response of the restored “connections” of the epistyles of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis of Athens is studied assuming that the interconnected epistyles are under shear loading mode. The study is implemented by taking advantage of a numerical model, properly validated on the basis of the data of a recent relative experimental protocol. The main difficulty while studying the specific problem is the co-existence of three materials of completely different mechanical behaviors, i.e. the brittle marble of the epistyles, the ductile titanium of the connector and the cement-based material filling the grooves of the marble in which the connector is placed. The interfaces of this three-material-complex are simulated as simple contact with friction, the coefficient of which is, also, experimentally determined. Taking advantage of the data provided by the numerical model the stress field developed in the connector and the surrounding marble volume is described. Moreover, the forces imposed by the connector on the surface of the groove are quantitatively determined. Furthermore, the model permits a quantitative comparison between the mechanical response of the interconnected epistyles in the presence or in the absence of the “relieving space”. It is definitely concluded that the alternative design of the “connections”, according to which a small portion of the connector’s web is left uncovered by the filling material (relieving space), offers serious advantages against the traditional design, in the direction of reducing the intensity of the stress field developed in the marble volume surrounding the connector, thus, contributing to the protection of the authentic building material of the monument in the case of overloading of the epistyles.

Chios mastic gum decreases renin levels and ameliorates vascular remodeling in renovascular hypertensive rats

Chios mastic gum (CMG) exerts robust anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and it affects pathways that are implicated in the pathophysiology of endothelial and vascular inflammation. Aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that CMG administration lowers blood pressure (BP) and improves hypertension-induced target organ damage. 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats were treated with CMG (40 mg/kg body weight/day) for 2-weeks after the establishment of hypertension. Acute CMG administration lowered systolic, diastolic and mean arterial BP, while these hemodynamic effects were sustained throughout the 2-week administration period. CMG group also exhibited alleviated target organ damage as proposed by amelioration of biomechanical properties of the aorta -including cross-sectional area (CSA), aortic wall stiffness and thickness-, reversal of myocardial small vessel hypertrophy and maintenance of serum albumin levels. The anti-hypertensive effects of CMG are likely to be mediated by the decrease in renin serum levels. Regression analysis indicated that the effect of CMG on organ damage was BP-lowering dependent and was not associated with direct effects of renin or with its anti-inflammatory properties. We suggest a BP lowering effect of CMG via down-regulation of renin excretion associated with attenuation of target organ damage and inflammatory status. These observations provide profound evidence for the beneficial role of CMG in hypertension, which could possibly translate to further clinical research.

Correlation between the electric and acoustic signals emitted during compression of brittle materials

An experimental protocol is described including a series of uniaxial compression tests of three brittle materials (marble, mortar and glass). The Acoustic Emission (AE) technique and the Pressure Stimulated Currents (PSC) one are used since the recordings of both techniques are strongly related to the formation of cracking in brittle materials. In the present paper, the correlation of these techniques is investigated, which is finally proven to be very satisfactory.

The multi-layered ring under parabolic distribution of radial stresses combined with uniform internal and external pressure

A recently introduced solution for the stress- and displacementfields, developed in a multi-layered circular ring, composed of a finite number of linearly elastic concentric layers, subjected to a parabolic distribution of radial stresses, is here extended to encompass a more general loading scheme, closer to actual conditions. The loading scheme includes, besides the parabolic radial stresses, a combination of uniform pressures acting along the outer- and innermost boundaries of the layered ring. The analytic solution of the problem is achieved by adopting Savin’s pioneering approach for an infinite plate with a hole strengthened by rings. Taking advantage of the results provided by the analytic solution, a numerical model, simulating the configuration of a threelayered ring (quite commonly encountered in practical applications) is validated. The numerical model is then used for a parametric analysis enlightening some crucial aspects of the overall response of the ring.