Getty Conservation Institute 281d ago

Full Lecture Title — Mechanical research applied to overall structural assessment of large archaeological wooden objects from the Viking age Presenter: David Hauer, Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo Abstract: The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway, houses the world’s largest collections of artefacts from the Viking era. The century old museum, part of the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, is now being considerably enlarged. Prior to the building process small and less fragile objects were moved to safe storage. However, the collection holds the Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune ship, the three best-preserved Viking ships in the world, and three finely carved sledges from the Oseberg finds. For these large, fragile, and structurally complex objects, relocation was associated with greater risk than securing them on site. The ships and sledges are the only objects remaining within the museum, and it has been of utmost importance to secure them prior to the ongoing construction work. In addition, great care must be taken when these large objects are to be relocated into the new gallery areas. In addition establishing long-term preservation strategies, balancing both the visitor experience and the climate and physical conditions for the objects on display. Finite element models are developed as a tool for understanding the static and dynamic behaviour of the ships and sledges. In order to get reliable input data for conservation assessment, and element models of the highly heterogeneous objects, innovative mechanical testing and monitoring has been pivotal to assess material and structural characteristics. This includes both static and dynamic measurement data, and climate response. For static calibration we have applied measurement of weight and load distribution between loadbearing points of the structures, employing load cells. Also, load-deformation measurements have been performed by controlled point loads in selected areas of the structures, where load has been applied and dimensional change measured, in X-, Y-, Z- axis. For dynamic measurements and structural analysis, a wide range of vibration measurements have been conducted to retrieve information about the dynamic properties, using ODS measurements (Operational Deflection Shape). For the investigation of how the overall structures of the ships are responding to seasonal climate fluctuations we have applied load distribution monitoring over time. Combined with photogrammetric monitoring, this gives new insight to overall structural behaviour. The most important methods from the project will be introduced. Some of the results from our mechanical research will be presented, and how this has formed knowledge-based strategies, and affected decision making facing our present challenges. This presentation was part of the Mechanical Insights: Shaping the Future of Museum Collection Symposium. View details and the full symposium program here: https://www.getty.edu/projects/mechanical-characterization-historic-artistic-materials/mechanical-insights-symposium/ Part of Getty Conservation Institute’s Managing Collection Environment Initiative: https://www.getty.edu/projects/managing-collection-environments-initiative/