Description
This module presents ways to develop a strategy and detail structural solutions for the re-use of existing structures for a new purpose. To this end, condition assessment methods are introduced to be able to delineate the extent and detailing of structural interventions, for a wide range of existing structural typologies, including historic structures as a special subset of existing structures with additional design limitations. Heritage values, guidelines & international charters establishing the principles of heritage conservation are also covered. The module presents a number of successful and not-so-successful case studies of different scales and contexts to discuss the interventions, to further highlight the open-ended nature of adaptive reuse.
The teaching programme will include:
- Building life-cycle and embodied carbon. Relevance and response of structural engineering to efforts to decarbonise built environment and construction industry, with a summary of recent developments in the sector (including a review of current and proposed policies/guidelines to measure, reduce and cap embodied carbon footprint of buildings).
- A special set of existing buildings: (historic and modern) heritage structures. Historic background of the development of conservation and heritage theory from the 19th century onwards, with a focus on building reuse and beyond. International charters, and their critique. When and how structural engineering becomes relevant. Regulatory framework.
- Vernacular/traditional and monumental typologies.
- More modern building typologies
- Introduction to structural intervention design: Preliminary engineering assessment. Delineation of structural system. Condition assessment. The morphology and pathology of masonry, timber and concrete through visual inspection. Foundation inspections. On-site measurements: Non-destructive and semi-destructive testing and structural health monitoring. Application of Finite Element Modelling.
- Repair techniques: repointing and grout injection for masonry, strengthening methods.
- Addition of new elements. Material and mechanical compatibility principle. New space enclosure. New floors. Horizontal and vertical extensions.
- Upgrading fire resistance and hygrothermal performance of existing elements of structure.
- Case studies and field visit(s)
Learning Outcomes
On a successful completion of the course, the students will be able to develop the structural design interventions for the new use of an existing building. More specifically, they will:
- Recognise how structural engineering is relevant to achieving sustainability and the overall decarbonization of built environment.
- Understand how heritage building conservation can help both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Identify and implement various visual, non/semi destructive and analytical methods suitable to help judge the residual load-bearing capacity of an existing building (condition assessment).
- Demonstrate knowledge of common repair and strengthening methods.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
Ìý