Investigating Structural Stability of Historic Buildings: A Case Study of a Rampart Wall of Hilandar Monastery

Abstract

The objective of this research is to establish an appropriate methodology for the restoration of historic buildings and detecting the deformations of structural elements. The basic method adopted includes long-term in situ observation of historic buildings in use, analyses and condition assessment of the construction and performance monitoring for structural elements based on the case studies of Hilandar Monastery, Mount Athos, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The subject of this research is the rampart wall (10th century) and the buildings directly connected to the wall, i.e. the Refectory and the Abbot's Lodge. This research deals with the causes of deformation and the subsequent consequences the leaning of the rampart wall and deformation of the adjacent structural elements. The abovementioned motions and deformations led to the occurrence of cracking in the chimneys of the Abbot's Lodge, where a disastrous fire (2004) destroyed nearly 55% of the monastery structures. The present research discovers the cause of the problem that has been present for more than two centuries and also prevents further deformations on the rampart wall.