The Wooden Roof of Banesa e Skendulate in Gjirokastra, Albania: The Role of the Diagnostic Test Campaign in the Structural Safety Evaluation

Abstract:

Banesa e Skendulate is part of the historical center of the museum-city of Gjirokastra (Albanian UNESCO World Heritage), an unique and well-preserved example of Albanian urban vernacular architecture influenced by the ottoman architectural style, situated in a strategic position in the valley of the Drino. Banesa e Skendulate represents not only the typical compositional characteristics of this architecture but also a culture and a lifestyle deeply rooted in its own traditions. As its known, historic roofings are load-bearing structures made of timber according to an empirical and intuitive design, without structural engineering theory support, and Banesa e Skendulates roof is a clear example of the posts and beams system and shows the ability of the local craftsmen to deal with the support of heavy stone roofing. In the following paragraphs, will be presented the non-destructive diagnostic testing performed on the wooden structure of the roofing together with a detailed geometric and technological survey in order to recognize the structural system, its behavior and pathology and then process the analytical 3D model. Furthermore, the paper deals with the problem arose as consequence of the interpretation of the results obtained by the diagnostic tests, concerning the determination of the classes of resistance attached to ancient structural wooden elements that, for obvious reasons, cannot be classified according to the strength classes defined by the regulations for new timber constructions. Applying the reference strength values classified for the new timber elements to the historic ones, can cause a heavy penalty in terms of structural safety verification of the roof; that is why the role of the diagnostic test campaign should guide the reinforcement project applying reference values determined on the real conditions of the wooden elements.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 778)
• Pages: 911-918
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.778.911
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Stefano Podestà, Federica Pompejano, Gerolamo Stagno
• Keywords: Albania, Beams System, Gjirokastra, Historic Wood, Nondestructive Testing (NDT), Posts, Structural Evaluation, Traditional Architecture, Traditional Materials Technology, UNESCO, Wooden Roofs

References

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