Integration of disciplines in the structural analysis of historical constructions. The Monastery of San Jer´onimo de Buenavista (Seville-Spain)

Abstract

The assessment of the structural health of historical constructions is needed to carry out correct diagnoses and implement proper decision making strategies in the preservation built cultural heritage. In order to provide information about the state of different structural elements of the Monastery of San Jer´onimo de Buenavista, in Seville (Spain), an extensive experimental campaign, mainly comprising non-destructive and in situ tests, was carried out. The present paper describes a structural analysis based on numerical models. The main goal of this research is to assess the improvement in the results of numerical model by integrating information from techniques which come from fields of knowledge that complement architecture and engineering, such as geophysics, archaeology or topography. A non-linear analysis under gravitational loads until reaching the ultimate load of the structure is developed. A model that is truer to the reality at a global level is obtained, highlighting significant improvements in the results at a local level.