Dynamic identification of historical and singular baroque vaults designed by Balthasar Neumann basilica of the fourteen holy helpers and chapel of the Wurzburg residence (Germany).

Abstract

Balthasar Neumann was a German Baroque architect with a wide experience on the design and construction of geometrically singular masonry vaults. Understanding the complex behaviour of this masonry vaults appears as a fundamental aspect to ensure its proper preservation. It is well known that historical heritage has to be preserved and different technical analysis are usually necessary to achieve it. Before performing these analyses, non-destructive techniques are usually an indispensable tool to provide information about the current structural behavior of the building. The use of ambient vibration tests and operational modal analysis method are widespread as a process to identify dynamic properties of historical constructions from a global point of view, but not to identify these dynamic properties of specific elements. In this paper, these techniques are used to characterize dynamically concrete parts of the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and Chapel of the Würzburg Residence, specifically its roofs.