Structural and Conservation Analysis of an Industrial Masonry Chimney in Monza, Italy

During the industrial revolution, the diffusion of furnaces for different productive activities implied a spread use of masonry chimneys that characterized the city landscape. The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage have included a large number of them in the list of “protected buildings”. Thus, they have to be maintained in a good state of conservation and repaired when necessary. Unfortunately, in the Northern Italy most factories have fallen into disuse and chimneys turn out to be the only protruding element, surrounded by abandoned buildings, often partially collapsed. This work presents the assessment of a masonry chimney in Monza, near Milan, approximately 90 years’ old that was part of the thermal plant for the production of felts. The plant was dismissed and abandoned in the ’70s. The circular chimney, built in a truncated cone shape through a brickwork double wall, is approximately 40 m high. For the recovery plan of the area, an investigation on the state of damage was required, since the chimney showed a visible crack pattern and local decay. The assessment was carried out through a multidisciplinary approach. An experimental campaign included geometrical survey, out-of-plumb measurement and crack pattern survey as well as the investigation of the damage along the whole height of the chimney. The endoscopic inspections allowed to investigate the construction phases and technique. With the measured data, a numerical model was developed and structural analyses under wind and earthquake loads were developed. The damage pattern was compatible with the significant effects due to wind action. © 2019, RILEM.