Structural strategies and measures reducing flood action on architectural heritage

Abstract

The paper systematically deals with structural measures which have been developed and/or designed for defined categories of architectural heritage objects sorted according to their sensitivity to flood action. There are distinguished i) flood resistant objects and structures, ii) objects and structures from materials with a high moisture volumetric change, iii) structures from materials of strength highly degrading due to moisture (including soils), iv) structures susceptible to partial damage due to flood, and v) structures and elements vulnerable to overall collapse or large displacement due to flood. Each category is illustrated with typical representatives and with typology of damage which may be caused by flooding. Then to each category and damage appropriate preventive or remedial measures are suggested, including recommendations related to overall risk management strategy. Special attention is paid to the state and condition of historic objects which are under threat of flooding, in many cases repeatedly. Several examples from recent damage on cultural heritage monuments due to natural disaster effects clearly show a very close dependence of the extent of damage on the previous restoration interventions and the health condition of the damaged monument. This statement is documented with data and facts observed during inspections on historic objects after flood, as well as data collected during a European FP6 CHEF joint research project in this field. © 2012 WIT Press.