The Development of a Methodology to Understand Climate-induced Damage in Decorated Oak Wood Panels

Climate-induced damage in decorated oak wood panels is considered to be a high risk for pre-eminent museum collections. To advise museums on the development of sustainable future preservation strategies and rational guidelines for indoor climate specifications, the risk of this type of damage – physical and mechanical is analysed in full depth in this research. A comprehensive methodology is required that meets the requests of the conservation community and also helps to bridge the gap between scientists and conservators. Therefore, this research couples an extensive examination of empirical data obtained from naturally aged museum objects, i.e. a collection analysis, with numerical modelling and experimental testing. A multidisciplinary collaboration has been initiated, whereby conservators and scientists are working together to fulfil the common objectives of sustainable and low-risk preservation of valuable museum collections. In this paper, the methodology is outlined and some results are presented

The development of a methodology to understand climate-induced damage in decorated oak wood panels

Climate-induced damage in decorated oak wood panels is considered to be a high risk for pre-eminent museum collections. To advise mu¬seums on the development of sustainable fu-ture preservation strategies and rational guide¬lines for indoor climate specifications, the risk of this type of damage – physical and mechanical – is analysed in full depth in this research. A comprehensive methodology is required that meets the requests of the conservation com-munity and also helps to bridge the gap be¬tween scientists and conservators. Therefore, this research couples an extensive examination of empirical data obtained from naturally aged museum objects, i.e. a collection analysis, with numerical modelling and experimental testing. A multidisciplinary collaboration has been initi¬ated, whereby conservators and scientists are working together to fulfil the common objec¬tives of sustainable and low-risk preservation of valuable museum collections. In this paper, the methodology is outlined and some results are presented

Climate4Wood: climate effects on decorated wooden panels

Damage caused by fluctuations in museum climate is regarded as one of the main risks to museum collections. Therefore very strict standards for climate specifications have developed, leading to high implementation and energy costs. Based on research done since the 1990's, these specifications are now seen as unrealistic and unnecessarily strict, however, extensive research is required to convince the conservation community that these specifications can be relaxed without causing damage to susceptible objects, such as wooden panels (paintings and furniture). The aim of the Climate4Wood proposal is (1) to identify the RH fluctuations that decorated wooden panels can safely sustain (the 'allowable' fluctuations) and (2) in consequence to develop rational guidelines for the climate specifications in the museums. Therefore it is important to understand the response of wooden panels and the damage failure criteria. The project outcome enables the development of a decision-making model that will help museums to become more sustainable, by balancing the cost and preservation of the collection. Based on a museum study (PhD 1), consisting of a systematic analysis of a collection of decorated panels, reconstructions will be made to measure the hygrothermal properties of oak. The results are used as input for a material and mechanical modeling study (PhD 2), to model climate and age induced stresses and deformations. A postdoc will determine and model the relevant non linear elastic material properties. It is expected that combining this information will help museums throughout the world to develop rational guidelines for climate specifications

Assessment of climate induced damage in decorated oak wooden panels

Climate induced damage in decorated oak wooden panels is considered to be a high risk for the preeminent museum collections. To advise museums on the development of future sustainable preservation strategies and to define rational guidelines for indoor climate specifications, climate induced physical and mechanical damage has been analysed in a collection study, experimental testing of mock-ups and by finite element modelling. The collection study consisted of the development of a comprehensive methodology to select objects of interest from the collection and analyse their condition using a combination of visual inspection and archival searches. Mock-up samples of wooden panels with representative structural elements were exposed to varying climate conditions in climate controlled rooms and monitored with state-of-the-art experimental mechanics equipment. Further the collection study and experimental testing were used to inform the development of a finite element model of crack growth under 3-point bending. The work was performed within the Cimate4Wood project, a multidisciplinary collaboration between conservators and scientists work. The paper presents the methodology of the museum study and results from the museum study, experimental testing and modelling.Structural Integrity & Composite