Assessment, diagnosis and strengthening of Outeiro Church, Portugal

Historical structures are particularly difficult to analyze due to the lack of mechanical data. Here, a case study is fully detailed, including the aspects of historical, damage and geometric investigations, of advanced numerical analysis, of justification of remedial measures and of detailing the adopted strengthening. The paper also advocates that significant information can be obtained from numerical analysis, namely with respect to the understanding of existing damage and to the minimum and adequate design of strengthening. A clear understanding of the structural behavior and reliable strengthening, based on sophisticated tools of structural analysis, can therefore reduce the extent of the remedial measures in the restoration of ancient structures.