F. J. Alejandre

Functional and Physical Service Life of Natural Stone Claddings

AbstractDuring their lifecycle, a building and its components should fulfill a set of performance requirements. However, in reality, from the moment in which a building is placed in use, its deterioration process begins. Buildings and especially their facades, more exposed to the external environmental agents, suffer throughout their service life several types of depreciation, becoming obsolete, economically destitute, or physically deteriorated, leading to the end of their service life. This paper intends to establish a correlation between functional criteria (FBSL) and physical degradation (Sw) in the definition of service-life prediction models. In this study, these models are applied to 203 natural stone claddings (directly adhered to the substrate), located in the Lisbon area, Portugal. The functionality and degradation condition of the facades analyzed are evaluated through visual inspections. Vulnerability and risks (intrinsic and extrinsic variables) are considered in the evaluation of both method...

Copper-zinc hydroxychlorides origin and occurrence as paint pigments in Arcos de la Frontera's Chapel of Mercy (Spain)

This paper deals with the characterization of a green paint layer covering ornamental stone elements in the Presbytery of Arcos de la Frontera9s Chapel of Mercy (Cadiz, Spain), a 16 th -century building. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine that the layer derived from a treatment of the stone (calcarenite) consisting of applying mixtures of gypsum and zinc-copper basic chlorides as paint pigments. Among the different salts, zinc-stabilized paratacamite, clinoatacamite and atacamite could be present. Very scattered dark-maroon speckles appear on the green layer (mainly composed of cuprite). Both these salts and other greenish, synthetic copper-containing compounds may be products deriving from artificial corrosion of brass or other copper alloys.

The Influence of Pathological Situations on Churches’ Functionality: An Approach Based on Historical Records

ABSTRACT This study identifies the main anomalies that may occur in historical buildings, analyzing their related causes, and estimating the influence of pathological situations on the buildings’ functionality. This information is essential to support qualified, conscientious, and sustainable rehabilitation interventions on sets of heritage buildings with homogeneous constructive characteristics. A fuzzy expert system was used to estimate the serviceability of buildings, performed based on historical records, over a long period of time, evaluating the influence of the pathological situations to establish the rehabilitation actions. The methodology includes 17 variables, (vulnerabilities and external risks damages), which determine a functionality index of the constructions analyzed. The application of historical data allows knowing the past behavior and performance of the buildings. These data can provide useful information for the definition of preventive maintenance plans, considering financial, social, and environmental requirements and their more frequent anomalies. A total of 390 records in a sample of 20 parish churches located in southwestern Spain were gathered. This study discussed the effects of the most common anomalies observed in these buildings, concluding that controlling moisture and timber-related anomalies is crucial to ensure the building’s serviceability over time.

Fuzzy Modeling of the Functional Service Life of Architectural Heritage Buildings

AbstractThis paper addresses maintenance planning in heritage buildings. Currently, social, economic, and environmental factors raise concerns about the durability and service life of buildings. Th...

Protection value and functional service life of heritage timber buildings

ABSTRACT The development of objective methodologies for the preventive conservation of historic buildings is extremely relevant to mitigate the deterioration of buildings and sites with exceptional cultural value. In this sense, there is a growing need to develop comprehensive, coherent plans to manage, preserve and protect heritage buildings in areas that are extremely susceptible to natural disasters, such as the case of the Pacific coast of South America. Two methodologies are presented in this study to assess the functional service life and protection level of cultural heritage in Chile. This research intends to establish a correlation between the functional performance of heritage buildings and the Chilean code related to the definition of the preservation of historic heritage buildings. This study applies both methodologies to 25 heritage buildings (timber housing) located in the city of Valdivia, Chile. A multiple linear regression analysis is applied in order to rank the influence of the variables used to define the protection level, according to the Chilean standard, in the functionality index of timber heritage constructions. The information obtained in this study is exceptionally relevant for the researchers and stakeholders responsible for the definition and implementation of maintenance programmes in building stocks.

Lime-Crusted Rammed Earth: Materials Study

This study analyses the durability of rammed-earth wall construction techniques. The analysis focuses on three medieval masonry types from the Castle of Villavieja (Castellón, Spain) using two variations of lime-reinforced rammed earth in its walls: lime-crusted rammed earth and brick-reinforced rammed earth. Materials analysis reveals the good properties of the materials used in the outer wall facing despite its age. It also clearly shows how deterioration depends more on the construction technique (construction of the wall with a base, cornice, facings, core; on-site installation, bonds, etc.) than on the material itself. These two types of lime-reinforced rammed earth (lime-crusted rammed earth and brick-reinforced rammed earth) are the most common kinds of fortified architecture in the Iberian Peninsula as well as in northern Africa and the Middle East. The case presented herein is therefore highly relevant as it advances our knowledge of the behaviour of the materials comprising these walls and lays the foundations for suitable future conservation works of a vast array of architectural heritage.