Nicko Kassotakis
A model to evaluate the health of masonry structures.
Email: n.kassotakis2@ncl.ac.uk
Supervisors
Project description
In the quest to evaluate the health of a masonry structure, we need the answers to three questions:
- How does a structure behave before failure?
- How does a structure fail and why?
- How does a structure behave after failure?
In an ideal scenario, whole-scale structural assessment experiments are practical and economically viable. We would respond to these questions on a daily basis by means of experiments.
Of course, this scenario is not true. It makes structural analysis by means of high-level numerical modelling a necessity.
In this project, we will propose a holistic methodological workflow. It will allow high-level numerical modelling of masonry structures using the discrete element method.
The problem of geometric data acquisition and structural geometry development is complex. We will address it by employing automated 3D reconstruction. We will validate the workflow on both small scale experimental masonry structures and full scale structures. These will include masonry arch bridges and historic masonry towers.
Interests
- historic masonry structures
- masonry arch bridges
- static analysis
- incremental dynamic analysis
- remote sensing
- 3D documentation
- structural health monitoring
- structural reinforcement