Quantifying the Differences in Documentation and Modeling Levels for Building Pathology and Diagnostics

Abstract

Building pathology and diagnostics enable a practitioner to quantify the severity of damage to an existing structure as well as prioritize interventive and preventive measures. Two key aspects of building pathology and diagnostics are documentation and analysis to understand how damage could have occurred on a structure and how it affects overall stability. Within these two methods there are various levels which a practitioner can utilize. The aim of the present work is to quantify the differences in documentation and modeling levels to understand how they affect the overall process of building pathology and delineate the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Using combinations of photogrammetry, laser scanning, thermal imaging, distinct element modeling, and finite-distinct element modeling, this work seeks to understand how differences in the level of numerical modeling affect damage diagnoses as well as how differences in documentation levels affect damage diagnoses. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages of simulations using simplified micro-modeling versus detailed micro-modeling, the effects of small perturbations to modeling geometry, and the influences of initial conditions are explored. These questions are examined through the use of two case studies including the foundation walls of the Baptistery di San Giovanni in Florence, Italy and a wall in Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.