Monitoring the Mechanical Behavior of the Weathervane Sculpture Mounted Atop Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower

• DOI: 10.1177/1475921709340974
• Publication Date: 2009-07-01T02:01:30Z
• Authors: M. Solís; A. Romero; P. Galvín
• Keywords: Sculpture; Instrumentation

This article presents the application of monitoring and detection structural damage techniques to a historic monument. Seville cathedral’s famous bell tower ‘La Giralda’ is 96 m tall crowned with large 16th century sculpture known as ‘Giraldillo’. The supported an internal bar structure, which fitted over axis about it rotates according wind direction, allowing function weathervane. Between 1999 2005 Giraldillo was demounted underwent intensive restoration process, included mechanical repair work. As only accessible by means complex costly scaffolding systems, instrumentation system consisting different types sensors installed study assembly’s response, its functioning weathervane state conservation while being remounted atop Giralda Tower. Different aimed at detecting possible deterioration in Giraldillo’s support structure were employed well. results obtained 2 years operation, showing how heath can be applied historical monuments.