L'attività di collaborazione con il Politecnico di Torino. Tra didattica e ricerca

As part of the research program between Politecnico di Torino and the Association "Cement in the identity of Casale Monferrato", an opportunity of study and research has been offered to the students of the schools of architecture and engineering, as well as of international masters. The works presented hereafter constitute a significant selection of thesis researches focused on the territory of Casale Monferrato and diversified for the specificity of the methodological approach: more conservative of the industrial and cultural heritage or more innovative on the territory. Some theses pay more attention to the analysis of the industrial heritage of Casale, some are more focused on the territory and to urban issues connected, and finally some develop some issues of redevelopment and rehabilitation of dismissed buildings, with the intention of enhancing their presence in the are

L'attività di collaborazione con il Politecnico di Torino. Tra didattica e ricerca.

As part of the research program between Politecnico di Torino and the Association "Cement in the identity of Casale Monferrato", an opportunity of study and research has been offered to the students of the schools of architecture and engineering, as well as of international masters. The works presented hereafter constitute a significant selection of thesis researches focused on the territory of Casale Monferrato and diversified for the specificity of the methodological approach: more conservative of the industrial and cultural heritage or more innovative on the territory. Some theses pay more attention to the analysis of the industrial heritage of Casale, some are more focused on the territory and to urban issues connected, and finally some develop some issues of redevelopment and rehabilitation of dismissed buildings, with the intention of enhancing their presence in the area

Lo stabilimento Olivetti di Scarmagno: la sperimentazione tecnologico-strutturale delle reticolari spaziali in acciaio

Il lavoro ha lo scopo di ripercorrere le vicende storico-architettonico-costruttive di una singo-lare componente del patrimonio delle architetture olivettiane: la grande maglia reticolare pro-gettata da Eduardo Vittoria e Marco Zanuso negli anni ’60 per lo stabilimento Olivetti di Scarmagno. La struttura analizzata presenta una maglia di 50 x 50 metri e venne realizzata con tecniche di sollevamento innovative dall’impresa Galtarossa. A testimonianza della duttilità della costru-zione metallica a grandi luci, le “maglie campione” progettate per lo stabilimento, vennero successivamente impiegate come copertura di edifici scolastici ancora oggi in servizio nel ter-ritorio di Ivrea. L’interesse del lavoro si inquadra nel vasto patrimonio di architetture olivettiane della città di Ivrea, oggi oggetto di candidatura come patrimonio Unesco

Badania numeryczne, analiza i ocena wcześniejszych interwencji na zabytkowych konstrukcjach drewnianych : dach zamku Valentino

The paper analyzes a series of reinforcement interventions performed on the historical timber roof structure of the Valentino Castle in Torino (Italy) some thirty years ago. It is not very common to be able to assess the durability of interventions without relying to accelerated ageing test. In this case a real structure is considered, which was consolidated by one of the authors (C. Bertolini) in the past. Recently the laser scanning survey has strengthened a relevant interest in sectors as monitoring and static assessment of building structures. The high detailed models which is possible to reach, and the chance to foresee the accuracy and the resolution of surface models, make them particularly adaptable for studies concerning conservation and maintenance of cultural heritage. The laser survey models is compared with the documentation of the intervention fulfilled three decades ago, in order to evidence the general safety level of whole complex. The fully three-dimensional geometrical information is input in the finite element code, and a structural model is presented which is able to account for the positive contribution of the roof planking connected above the main truss frame. Both the original planking and the reinforcing planking, put in place some thirty years ago, have been accounted for, considering different degrees of the connection stiffness. The paper, starting from the original design, presents an assessment of the durability of the adopted techniques according to the present situation. The effectiveness of the past interventions is proved by nowadays survey, NDT investigations and numerical simulations.Artykuł analizuje serię wcześniejszych interwencji wzmacniających na zabytkowej konstrukcji drewnianej dachu w zamku Valentino w Turynie (Włochy) przeprowadzonych około 30 lat temu. Rzadko trafia się możliwość oceny trwałości zastosowanej interwencji bez konieczności polegania na teście przyspieszonego starzenia. W tym przypadku badano prawdziwą konstrukcję, której wzmocnienia dokonała w przeszłości jedna z autorek (C. Bertolini). Rozwój metod badawczych wykorzystujących skaner laserowy wpłynął ostatnio na wzrost zainteresowania takimi obszarami, jak monitorowanie i ocena statyczna konstrukcji budynku. Możliwość uzyskania bardzo szczegółowych modeli oraz możliwość prognozowania dokładności i rozdzielczości modeli powierzchniowych sprawiają, że metoda ta może z powodzeniem być wykorzystywana w badaniach dotyczących konserwacji i zachowania obiektów zabytkowych. Model obiektu uzyskany w wyniku skanu laserowego został porównany z dokumentacją interwencji przeprowadzonej trzydzieści lat wcześniej, w celu sprawdzenia ogólnego bezpieczeństwa całego obiektu. Trójwymiarowe dane geometryczne zostały wprowadzone do kodu elementów skończonych w celu wygenerowania modelu konstrukcji. Model ten uwzględniał pozytywne oddziaływanie deskowania dachu połączonego z konstrukcją wiązarów. Zarówno oryginalne deskowanie, jak też deskowanie wzmacniające, zastosowane ok. 30 lat temu, zostały uwzględnione w analizie, z odniesieniem do różnego stopnia sztywności połączeń. Artykuł, wychodząc od oryginalnego projektu, prezentuje ocenę trwałości zastosowanych rozwiązań w świetle sytuacji dzisiejszej. Skuteczność podjętych w przeszłości interwencji została potwierdzona przez badania przeprowadzone obecnie, analizy metodami nieniszczącymi oraz symulacje numeryczne

Preservation of the large timber roof of the Porta Nuova railway station in Torino

Torino, in 1861, was the first capital of the just unified Reign of Italy. In the same year, Eng. A. Mazzucchetti was charged for the design of the railway station of Porta Nuova in Torino, in correspondence of the arrival of the railway connecting Genova. The original conception resembles the bilateral scheme of the King Cross station in London, which is few years older. The design and construction of the station deserved contributions from the most outstanding scientists of that time, including R. Sephenson who provided the details of the lateral roof structures of the station, and the young Eng. A. Castigliano who defended his thesis on the design of the great steel vault above the rails. The two main branches were conceived with masonry bearing structure and a wide span timber roof covered with stone plates. The station, during the years, was object of several interventions, including restorations, dismantling of parts, and changes in the destination of use. Nowadays, the roof structure needs for important maintenance interventions due to the water leaking which caused the deterioration of the beneath timber structure. The present holders are considering the replacement of the entire roof. This solution is not respectful for conservation criteria, nor is affordable from an economical point of view. The present study describes the correct and sustainable approach for the structural assessment, restoration and maintenance program for the preservation of this important structure belonging to cultural heritage

Technology, Diagnosis and Structural Assessment on Timber Composite Beams in Venice Arsenal at the Biennale

In the architectural and cultural heritage of the Arsenale of Venice, the authors have worked on several interventions for diagnosis and recovery of roofs, foundations and floors of the so-called “woods of Venice”. The work refers to the complex of the “Sale d’Armi” located in the central area of the Arsenale, currently used as exhibition space for the Biennale of Venice. The original nucleus (1460) was used as weapons deposit of the Serenissima. The South “Sala d’Armi”, three buildings on two levels realized in the 17th century, were rebuilt after the fire of 1728. This article describes the diagnostic assessment, including dendrochronological and mechanical assessment, carried out in one of these buildings, the largest one, a large room at full height, which currently preserves original timber elements left in place after the fire: composite beams belonging to a timber floor supported by timber columns. The paper focuses on a very interesting construction system such as the historical composite wooden beams. This technology, although in frequent use in different parts of Italy for the realization of tie-beams of the trusses that were covering large spans, can be found specifically in the area of Venice for the construction of timber floors during the 17th century

Nanotechnologies applied to the restoration and maintenance of wooden built heritage

The paper presents a preliminary experimental campaign, which aims at investigating the possible application of carbon nanotubes to the mechanical improvement of timber structures. Different wood species are considered, as well as different solvents or resins as a dispersing media for carbon nanotubes.The experimentation is carried out on purpose exploiting exclusively the capillary properties of wood, in view of a possible on site application of the technique. Although still at a preliminary stage, these first results appear to be promising, and the research on the procedure is still in progress