Director: José Delgado Rodrigues. Geologist, Principal Research Officer, LNEC-Portugal

Rock mechanics solutions for ornamental rock protection & archaeological site conservation

This course aims to provide a dialogue between rock mechanics and conservation of architectural and archaeological sites with the objective of identifying, in the field of geotechnical engineering, analysis and application technologies or novel theoretical premises able to characterize, diagnose and treat the conservation problems of the rocks used in architectural and archaeological heritage.

Participants are invited to deliver a presentation of their problems or case studies for discussion.

Schedule: 09:30 am - 2:00 pm | 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Program schedule

09.30 Presentation of the course. J. Delgado, LNEC-Portugal (ret.)

10.00-11.00 Geological information for monuments preservation: from macro to micro scales. J. Delgado, LNEC-Portugal (ret.).

11.00-12.00 Physical and mechanical characterization: limitations on the study of rocks used in cultural heritage. T. Rivas, ETSI Minas, Universidad de Vigo-Spain.

12.00-12.30 Coffee break

12.30-13.30 Evaluation of treatments for conservation and restoration of ornamental rocks. M.J. Mosquera, Department of Chemistry-Physics, University of Cádiz, Spain.

13.30-14:00 Roundtable

14.00-15.30 Lunch

15.30-16.30 Modelling of masonry structures. J. Lemos, researcher of LNEC-Portugal.

16.30-17.00 Coffee break

17.00-18.00 Rock mechanics methodologies for the mechanical characterization of masonry structures. J. Muralha, researcher of LNEC-Portugal.

18.00 Presentation of issues by the participants and discussion roundtable.

>> More information

• Model development (construction of geometry, meshing, loads and boundary conditions, analysis options)
• Material models and constitutive relations
• Interpretation of results

• Support types (bolts, liner, structural elements)
• Model development
• Interpretation of results

• Model development (construction of geometry, meshing, loads and boundary conditions, analysis options)
• Material models and constitutive relations
• Interpretation of results

• Application of FEM to jointed rock mass problems
• Implicit vs. Explicit joint modelling
• Modelling of Discrete Fracture Networks (DFN)

• Application of FEM to slope stability analysis
• Shear Strength Reduction approach
• Deep seated slope failure
• Blocky rock mass slopes

• Saturated-Unsaturated transient groundwater analysis
• Permeability functionsBoundary conditions
• Seepage analysis of staged excavations

• Principles of statistical analysis
• Probabilistic inputs and outputs
• ReliabilityInterpretation of statistical results