Browsing by Author "Saelzer, G."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Digital Management System in Heritage Timber Buildings: A Detailed Application in Purranque, Chile
    (2022) Prieto, A. J.; Saelzer, G.; Palma, D.; Riveros, M.
    Artificial intelligence systems based on fuzzy logic models can manage both data obtained in situ from the buildings and that obtained from the knowledge base of professional experts. These kinds of digital methods can optimize resources and manage the uncertainty associated with the evaluation processes conducted by one or even different professional experts. Digital management systems that focus on preservation strategies help harmonize the results, as slight variations in the evaluation process of input variables do not generate a significant dispersion over the model's output variable. The preventive conservation of heritage buildings requires cooperative efforts in terms of the definition of heritage value and in the establishment of future preservation strategies, where qualified experts' opinions are key to examining multidisciplinary knowledge. In this respect, the incorporation of new protocols, which can help decision makers prioritize interventions and avoid restoration actions that are unnecessarily invasive or might cause irreparable loss of the properties, is urgently needed. The aim of this study concerns the analysis of the heritage value of the Mutizaval House emplaced in Purranque (South Chile) and a detailed examination of the functional degradation condition regarding each space of the whole building. The application of the fuzzy logic model revealed that 13 spaces out of 22 were ranked Condition C. Therefore, the methodology recommended monitoring the building's state of conservation and implementing a preventive maintenance action within no more than five years to preserve the building's features in a reasonably good state of functional condition. This kind of new digital management tool can be useful to stakeholders who are responsible for the establishment of preventive maintenance programs for heritage buildings in Chile.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Thermal Improvement of Perforated Ceramic Bricks
    (2009) Bustamante, W.; Bobadilla, A.; Navarrete, B.; Vidal, S.; Saelzer, G.
    The main objective of this study was to decrease thermal transmittance (U value) of brick masonry, with minimum cost increase and without use of insulation materials. Within the framework of this study, three new ceramic bricks were developed in order to improve the thermal performance of commonly used brick masonry in Chilean buildings. Design restrictions that keep external dimensions of bricks (14 cm) and fulfil structural requirements of Chilean standards, a country with high seismic activity, have been taken into account. Mathematical modelling and measurements of thermal and structural properties were carried out. The new types of bricks were manufactured by a local factory of ceramic products. Laboratory measurements showed that new masonry without stucco reached a U value between 1,64 W/m(2)K to 1,80 W/m(2)K, significantly lower than 2,22 W/m(2)K of the reference masonry. All structural requirements were fulfilled according to Chilean standards of gravitational and seismic loads.