From point cloud to structural analysis: safeguarding cultural heritage

In this dissertation, a specific strategy for modeling the structural behavior of historical monumental buildings is studied and discussed. The implemented strategy, namely Cloud2FEM, enables the semi-automatic reconstruction of building geometry from incomplete point clouds. Previously tested on other case studies in cultural heritage, the procedure demonstrates high accuracy even for complex geometries. It is important to note that the case study presented here, focusing on the Targu Jiu cathedral in Romania, is novel in its application of the procedure and is characterized by several missing portions of the surfaces. The procedure begins with the acquisition of a three-dimensional point cloud via terrestrial laser scanning, followed by its transformation into a finite element mesh. This transformation decomposes the three-dimensional problem into a series of two-dimensional simpler problems. Cloud2FEM software facilitates this process, offering a high degree of automation and significantly reducing the time required compared to traditional modeling procedures. The resulting mesh is then analyzed using Simulia Abaqus to delineate the structural cracking pattern and produce push-over diagrams. Subsequently, a vulnerability assessment of the cathedral's primary macro-elements is conducted through simplified pushover analyses, along with the allocation of cracks across the structure. The final stage of the thesis involves comparing various analysis results and proposing potential areas for strengthening measures.