CONSOLIDATION OF STONE, BRICK, MIXED OR CONCRETE MASONRY

The causes of the decay of the ancient walls can depend on the disintegration of the mortar that keeps together stones or bricks. This problem is, however, also caused by the humidity rising. Other causes may be invoked to sagging foundations, or vibration caused by traffic, seismic activity may also impact on reinforced concrete walls.

The wall consolidation is carried out with:

• the use of carbon fibers which create a reinforcement for the structure to be reconsolidate

• wall injections with premixed mortars

• structural consolidation using epoxy resins.

The use of injections in the masonry is a minimally invasive intervention from the visual point of view because it does not alter the aesthetic appearance of the structure.

CONSOLIDATION OF STONE, BRICK OR MIXED VAULTS

The consolidation of any kind of vault, either cross vault or barrel vault, made of brick or stone, begins by emptying the upper part from debris or materials which are not integral with the vault. Then we proceed with the stiffening and flow rate increase through the addition of a new scaffold and a side curb to the surrounding walls. At a later stage a supporting base is created in order to relieve the structure of the incident loads. Finally the damages in the underlying part are stitched by mortars and epoxy resins.

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CONSOLIDATION OF STRUCTURAL MASONRY THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF TIE-RODSI

The tie-rods are fully or less threaded long metal rods placed between two load bearing walls. Resisting the traction, they have the task to avoid the separation of the two walls both in static and dynamic conditions, such as seismic events. Positioning a series of tie-rods in an appropriate manner, it has the effect of binding the whole structure in order to make it as a single body. It must be noted that the final result can only be achieved on a well consolidated masonry, possibly with injections.

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CONSOLIDATION THROUGH MASONRY STRUCTURAL INSERTION USING REINFORCED SEAMS

Reinforced seams are a type of intervention aimed at consolidating masonries. They can be made in steel and tied with various types of mortars. Depending on the type of masonry, holes are created and later steel bars are inserted into them. The work is completed by injecting cement mortars or epoxy resins to seal the hole and tie the bar into the masonry.

CONSOLIDATION THROUGH MASONRY STRUCTURAL INSERTION USING INJECTIONS

This technique, born in the Fifties, in order to consolidate soils in foundation or rocks, has been adopted for reconsolidating masonry damaged by earthquakes and it is now widely used to heal degradation. Possible causes can be earthquakes or vibrations due to traffic, failure in the foundation, placer mining of materials caused by rain or water infiltration. The advantage of this technique is to be minimally invasive from a visual point of view because it does not alter the aesthetic appearance of the structure. The intervention consists in creating in the masonry to be reconsolidated a series of downwards-inclined holes which should be deep two-thirds of the thickness of the wall. Then the binder material is injected with a special machine consisting of a pump. The inserted material will form a single body with the stone material present inside.

RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSOLIDATION OF WOODEN FLOORS

After a careful design of the warpage of the floors and the height of the finished pavings, we proceed to the positioning of the wooden beams that will make up the floor. A series of concrete curbs will be built all around the beams’ heads. Later we will proceed with the secondary weaving, possibly placing cotto tiles in view, and with a pour of concrete.

CONSOLIDATION OF STONE, BRICK, MIXED OR CONCRETE MASONRY THROUGHT THE “SEW – UNSEW” TECHNIQUE

The so-called “sew-unsew” technique consists of the patient work of consolidation of a stone, brick or mixed masonry, by replacing each damaged piece, like a ruined stone or brick. In this way, the masonry will obtain again its consistency and homogeneity lost over the time. This method is used not only for entire masonries or facades, but also for the intrados of the windows, made of stone or brick.

CONSOLIDATIONSTHROUGH THE USE OF CARBON FIBERS

The consolidation of new buildings cannot be separated from the use of the carbon fiber. The reasons for choosing this type of intervention can be various and of different nature. Thanks to the carbon fibers, the structural elements, whether they are damaged by atmospheric agents (deterioration of the concrete and iron elements due to moisture and rust) or seismic events (damage to the beam-pillar hub or more frequent damages to the pillars).Finally , this technique is chosen even to adapt the building to the latest seismic standards. The technique: we proceed conducting surveys and tests on the reinforced concrete structure in order to perform a structural analysis and highlight deficiencies. Subsequently, the structural elements, identified with bands of carbon fibers and specific resins, are reinforced. The end result will be a stiffening calculated on the entire structure so as to improve the response to seismic events.