Advanced Conservation Methods for Historical Monuments

Successful monument repair projects have been completed by bringing together art conservators, engineers, and materials scientists. Conservators bring historical perspective and skill in repair. Engineers contribute numerical simulations and reinforced join designs. Materials scientists contribute specially designed adhesives and fracture mechanics-based material interactions. The repair of Adam (Tullio Lombardo c. 1490–95) challenged historical means and methods after a catastrophic accident. Prior restorations were limited by traditional techniques, most notably the use of invasive steel pins to repair fractures. This chapter details the design of an advanced fracture mechanics-based join repair using adhesives and pins, preserving the integrity and longevity of Adam. Included is the design of a protective adhesive to enhance the join’s mechanical performance. A pinning design is laid out, focusing on material selection, study of the stresses in the substrate and pin, and failure modes. Finally, recommendations are made for those seeking to undertake restorations.

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