Unreinforced masonry with embedded iron tie-rods – The case of Panagia Faneromeni church, Cyprus

Abstract

The current research addresses the effectiveness of metallic elements, tie rods, as an auxiliary device in significant Cultural Heritage Monuments. Faneromeni Church was selected in order to accomplish this aim, which considered as the oldest building in Cyprus that has metallic tie rods. Finite Element Method is considered as the most suitable for the analysis of such an important and complicated structure, that allows multiple analyses, in short period of time with accruable results. Abaqus Programme chosen for the analysis, were geometry and mechanical properties of Faneromeni presented as accurate as possible. Three models were made for the analyses. Initially Faneromeni’s Church model presented and analysed under dead and dynamical loads. Subsequently, metallic tie rods removed from the structure, in order to consider their contribution to the structure. Finally, first model was analysed, with the absence of the most basic tie rods of the structure. Process of studying the contribution of tie rods in presented in four main chapters. The first chapter discusses about Monuments around the world that include or included in the past, metallic tie rods as part of the structure. The second chapter presents the decision of Finite Elements Analysis, as the most suitable solution for this process. Next chapter presents geometry and material’s mechanical properties of Faneromeni Church. Finally, the fourth chapter demonstrates the three analyses and their results. The overall purpose of the study is comprehension of contribution of tie rods in structures, as well as the way they work.