On the Current State of Dovetail Wall-corner Joints in Wooden Greek Catholic Churches in Polish Subcarpathia with Structural and Sensitivity Analyses

• Published in: International journal of architectural heritage 2021-10, Vol.15 (10), p.1439-1456
• Main Authors: Lubowiecka, Izabela, Zybała, Tomasz, Bukal, Grzegorz, Krajewski, Marcin, Kujawa, Marcin, Kłosowski, Paweł
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dovetail; Greek Catholic church structure; historic structure; log corner joints; sensitivity analysis; structural analysis; timber structures
• ISSN: 1558-3058; 1558-3066
• DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2019.1687792

This paper describes the current condition of some dovetail joints which form the wall corners of two Greek Catholic churches of wooden construction in Polish Subcarpathia. It also gives the historical background of the sacral architecture of that region. The two structures, which represent the same type of log corner joints are situated in Chotylub and Cewków. The buildings were examined e.g. for damage, wood moisture content, out-of-plane deviations and changes in the geometry of the walls. The study is based on in-situ examination and structural analysis of the joints. Finite element simulations of the statics of joints built of old, and mixture of old and new, wood are performed in order to show how the change of material properties affects their structural behaviour. Also, a sensitivity analysis is performed to describe the effect on potential repairs that combining old damp wood with new and dry joint members might have.