Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2
PaTholoGies DeTecTeD
meter thick vault, to act as a monolithic arch.
For that purpose, a first generalized short bolt-
ing was carried out. after that stage, a long bolt-
ing was carried out to assure the contribution of
the higher strata to the stability of the cave. The
medium size stones fall risk was solved through
individualized fine bolts. a chemical sealing
product served for consolidating partially the
surface of the cave, preventing the fall of small
rocks. Finally, a mineralizing product applied
widely was the procedure chosen for the general
consolidation of the surface.
The Works performed are described below.
The pathologies detected are classified into four
sections:
• structural instability
• local instability of large blocks of up to 4000 kg
weight
• local instability of small blocks of up to 160 kg
weight
• General instability of small particles, type sand
or gravel
Previous anthropic activities, as a mesh of steel
protection, retention of loose rocks with conven-
tional mortars, etc, were removed.
4.2
Hydrodemolition
in some parts of the cave it had been placed an
unsightly triple twist steel mesh to protect both the
public and workers, from the fall of small blocks
and gravel. Protective measures had to be taken
to protect the staff that should work in the cave.
hydrodemolition techniques were applied with
water pressure up to 3000 bar, forcing selectively to
fall the rocks that were in worst conditions.
The application of this high-pressure water jet
also eliminated the numerous efflorescences that
appeared in the surface of the cave.
3
oBJecTiVes anD DeTeRMininG
FacToRs oF The WoRks
The essential objective of the intervention has
been to secure the installation. at the same time
the comfort has been improved by removing the
dust and small stones that could fall from the
ceiling.
obviously being a specially protected area,
constraints from the aesthetic point of view have
been extremely important. actually the work of
restoration, have not only had to relate to previous
anthropic activities, they have conditioned both
rehabilitation and restoration solutions.
4
DeVeloPMenT oF The WoRk
4.1
Overview
To achieve the first objective, which was to
strengthen the cave and avoid falls of large
blocks of stone, it was decided to create a one
Figure 2.
Mesh of steel protection.
Figure 3.
hydrodemolition techniques.
