A practical hybrid approach to the problem of surveying a working historical bell considering innovative measurement methods

Abstract

The article proposes using a novel hybrid measurement method, with expected precision results, to determine the characteristic of the historic, 17th-century bell. In an interdisciplinary approach, modern and non-invasive physical and chemical measurement methods were used. Based on the monitoring (measurements and laser scanning), a three-dimensional geometric model was built to calculate the bell size and analyze its condition depending on material consumption. Next, chemical measures of the bell samples were carried out to determine the material properties. For that purpose, advanced precision microscopic techniques were used. Based on the geometric model and chemical studies, the material properties and density of the bronze were determined using additive assumptions. Measurement accuracy and data quality were evaluated statistically. The method allows reliably determining the bell's weight without needing to dismantle it or external intervention. The approach is helpful for practitioners performing conservation work on such objects.