Research of influence of vibration impacts of chimes on the steeples of St. Isaac's Cathedral (Saint Petersburg) after reconstruction thereof

Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, 190005 Vtoraja Krasnoarmejskaja ul. 4, St. Petersburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: esmirnovae@yandex.ru

Abstract

This article gives consideration to the ways of solving a problem of ensuring safety of buildings and structures in use provided their operating conditions have changed. The assessment of possible consequences of bells installation on the steeples of St. Isaac's Cathedral is given as an illustration. The measurements of vibrations with simultaneous assessment of robustness and bearing capability of the brickwork have shown that the vibration impact of chimes of heavy bells can not adversely affect the bearing structures of the bell towers. However, there is always a risk of such adverse affect on the structure of the bell tower and stability of soils at its base. It is offered, therefore, to carry out investigation before the beginning of reconstruction using the structure model, which makes it possible to give consideration to the impact of «new» loads to exclude any possible emergency situation at the objects being reconstructed.