The 3D laser scanner has become a common instrument in numerous field applications such as structural health monitoring, assessment and documentation of structural damages, volume and dimension control of excavations, geometrical recording of built environment, and construction progress monitoring in different fields. It enables capture of millions of points from the surface of objects with high accuracy and in a very short time. These points can be employed to extrapolate the shape of the elements. In this way, the collected data can be developed to construct three-dimensional digital models that can be used in structural FEM analysis. This paper presents structural evaluation of a historic building through FE models with the help of a 3D point cloud. The main focus of the study is on the stone columns of a historic cistern. These deteriorated load bearing elements have severe non-uniform erosion, which leads to formation of significant stress concentrations. At this point, the 3D geometric data becomes crucial in revealing the stress distribution of severely eroded columns due to material deterioration. According to the results of static analysis using real geometry, maximum stress in compression increased remarkably on the columns in comparison with the geometrically idealized models. These values seem to approach the compressive strength of the material, which was obtained from the point load test results. Moreover, the stress distribution of the analysis draws attention to the section between columns and their capitals. According to the detailed 3D documentation, there is a reduced contact surface between columns and capitals to transfer loads.

The material defined as 'artificial stone', frequently used on the façades of the late 19th and early 20th century buildings, is a mixture of binder, aggregate and other additives and may either be applied directly as a coating on wall surfaces or precast in moulds and then attached to façades as decorative architectural elements (1). One of the effects of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century was a tendency to standardize architectural production, which in turn moved away from time-consuming and costly traditional techniques in search of those in accordance with the dynamic social, economic and cultural structure of the period. One of the resulting solutions was the rapidly mass-produced artificial stones that replaced the traditional stone masonry.The aim of this research is to evaluate the use of artificial stone on the exterior façades of buildings dated to turn of the last century in terms of architecture and conservation science, focusing on the classification of their constituent binders and aggregates. The experiments, conducted according to related national and international standards based on research programs recommended for similar mortar and plaster samples in literature, enabled the determination of the physical, raw material and mineralogical characteristics of the samples. Results indicate that all the binders have hydraulic quality, some being artificial cements and/or natural water limes and others being fat limes, mixed with mostly artificial pozzolanic additives. The identification of calcium sulphate enabled the classification cements as opposed to limes. Compared to mortars and concretes, the aggregates are smaller in size and usually lighter in colour, such as white sand, and crushed marble and lime stone. The use of fibrous aggregates as well as artificial pozzolanic aggregates with hydraulic binders including cements, on the other hand, may indicate the continuity of tradition and/or distrust in these new materials.

PurposeMaterial properties, such as shear and compressive strength of masonry, have a crucial impact on the seismic analysis results of masonry structures. Considering that most of the historical buildings are masonry structures, the damage caused by obtaining shear strengths with known methods exceeds acceptable limits. Instead of traditional shear strength index tests, this paper presents a test technique that has been developed which causes less damage to the structure, to obtain mechanical properties in masonry structures.Design/methodology/approachA new approach to shear testing and a test probe has been developed to minimize the destructive effects of mechanical in situ testing on masonry structures. The comparison of the results obtained with reduced destruction level using the novel shear strength index test probe with those obtained from the traditional method is addressed. Masonry specimens were tested in the laboratory and in situ tests were carried out on 12 historical buildings.FindingsTest results obtained from the proposed probe shear strength index test were consistent with the results obtained from the conventional shear strength test both at the laboratory setting and in situ. Although a large number of data is needed for the validation of a method, satisfactory agreement with the conventional shear strength index test method was obtained.Originality/valueThe authors believe that the proposed method would give the opportunity to collect more mechanical strength data with much less destruction. The experimental work in the laboratory and in situ tests and their comparisons are the supportive and original values of this research.