A mesh generation method for historical monumental buildings: An innovative approach

The numerical modeling of historical monumental buildings is a challenging task for contemporary civil engineers. One of the main reasons for this is that the use of traditional simplified structural schemes is inadequate due to the complex geometry of such historical structures. Therefore, it is necessary to resort to a fully 3D modeling technique that is performed using Computer Aided Design (CAD). In general, CAD-based modeling is an expensive and complex process and it is often performed manually by the user, which inevitably leads to the introduction of geometric simplifications or interpretations. In this study, an innovative mesh generation approach for the structural analysis of historical monumental buildings is presented. The method consists in a peculiar breakdown of the geometry starting from laser scanner or photogrammetric surveys. Moreover, this new approach involves a structural discretization that guarantees the generation of 3D finite element meshes as well as their mechanical characterization. The most relevant feature of the proposed method is the possibility to directly exploit 3D and detailed point clouds surveyed on historical buildings for structural purposes. As a result, a large reduction in the required time in comparison to CAD-based modeling procedures is achieved. A geometrical and structural validation of the method is carried out on a masonry tower application. The findings show good reliability and effectiveness of the mesh generation approach.