Engineering Mechanics

Proceedings Vol. 9 (2003)

ENGINEERING MECHANICS 2003

Copyright © 2003 Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Prague

 

Fischer O., Urushadze S.
pages 80 - +3p., full text

The gable wall standing over the entrance into a neo-gothic church and fixed on both sides of its base into towers, swayed with well-visible amplitudes out of its plane in the rhythm of the swinging of the bells. The gable is of triangular shape with the height of 8.60 m and base-width 9.0 m, not being supported horizontally by the roof or by any other stiffening structure. The measurements revealed that the bells excite the vibrations of towers and of the basement of the gable with moderate amplitudes, while the cantilever of the gable wall amplifies the motion by the resonance-effect. The impression of the gable motion was made worse due to the beat-effect of superposition of more bells (up to 6, with the masses between 150 and 1000 kg) with slightly different swaying frequencies (0.44 - 0.52 Hz). The way of reinforcing the wall is now being sought with respect to the cultural heritage conserving aspects.

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