The Iglesia Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santa María (Saint Mary Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica) is one of the most representative buildings among the architectural heritage of Valencia. The museum houses an octagonal dome, called The Cimborio, is considered to be…
The Iglesia Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Santa María (Saint Mary Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica) is one of the most representative buildings among the architectural heritage of Valencia. The museum houses an octagonal dome, called The Cimborio, is considered to be one of the most interesting works on the cathedral complex, which is even more valuable considering the few examples of such a dome built throughout history. The dome was built by the masters Nicolás de Autún and Martí LLobet and was completed around 1430, it has suffered many repairs and restorations of the problems caused by its risky slenderness, which have led the dome into a new equilibrium states that appear to have controlled the constant damage suffered by this skylight tower, but this cannot justify its current safety level. This study focuses on the use of new technical tools that have not been employed until now, to allow the performance of a strict scientific research in order to provide conclusions that clarify the doubts regarding to the structural behaviour of the dome. The graphic surveying is performed using the latest tools such as 3D Laser Scanner. This is a non-destructive technique that enables to exact plans to obtain reflecting the current deformation of the dome. These plans are then compared with plans made using traditional data collection techniques (plumb-lines, measuring tape, etc.). Based on this data, a structural study is performed enabling the general state of equilibrium to be assessed by means of limit analysis. Numerical methods have been used for nonlinear damage models and for mechanical fracture. 1 VIII International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures FraMCoS-8 J.G.M. Van Mier, G. Ruiz, C. Andrade, R.C. Yu and X.X.