VEGAS, FERNANDO1; MILETO, CAMILLA2; CRISTINI, VALENTINA3; RUIZ-CHECA, JOSÉ-RAMÓN4

1) PhD Architect, Full professor, Universitat Politécnica de València, Depto. Composición / ETSA; fvegas@cpa.upv.es

2) PhD Architect, Full professor, Universitat Politécnica de València, Depto. Composición / ETSA; cami2@cpa.upv.es

3) PhD Architect, Assistant professor, Universitat Politécnica de València, Depto. Composición / ETSA ; vacri@cpa.upv.es

4 ) PhD Architect, Associate professor, Universitat Politécnica de València, Depto. Construcciones / ETSA; joruiche@csa.upv.es

The work presented below, part of the project “Structural consolidation of traditional floors with compression layer of gypsum with vegetal fibers” (UPV/PAID-05-11/2893) describes a systematic study of the consolidation, repair and reinforcement of historic jack arch floors with gypsum vaults, very common in the eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula, using gypsum and natural and artificial fibres as the only reinforcement material. The text describes the different phases of this experimental pilot consolidation project carried out on a humble vernacular construction located in the Rincón de Ademuz (Valencia, Spain): on the one hand, mechanical tests were performed on samples taken from the buildingsite itself and, on the other, a series of laboratory made samples were tested; in both cases the type of gypsum, the amount of water and the addition of several types of fibre varied. From the results obtained in these two sets of samples, improvements could be established in the behaviour and restoration models of historic gypsum jack arch floors, using only local materials to achieve sustainability and physical compatibility with the existing building.

Keywords: Conservation of historic buildings, jack arch floors, gypsum properties and performances