Risk of fracture in massive cultural objects made of lime wood: a case study of Veit Stoss’ altarpiece

Abstract

Abstract Massive cultural objects made of wood are often situated in historic interiors in which they experience uncontrolled dynamic variations of relative humidity (RH). Although the objects usually have acclimatized to the natural climate variability, preventing risks related to any kind of modification of their environment requires an understanding of the object’s response to the expected changes. In the present study, an analysis of the risk of cracking related to continuous or intermittent heating, or the transfer to hypothetically ideal conditions in a conservation studio was performed for the case of elements of Veit Stoss’ altarpiece (1477–1489) preserved in St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow, Poland. Massive sculptures carved in lime wood and approximately one meter in diameter were analysed. The study aimed at determining safe margins of environment modifications that would not cause propagation of cracks that are known to have accumulated in wood during centuries of the altarpiece’s existence. The mechanical properties of lime wood were determined experimentally to feed the numerical model. The energy release rates around the tips of cracks of various depths in a wooden sculpture were calculated using the finite element analysis and compared with the critical value of the parameter triggering the fracture propagation in the material, derived from the fracture energy measurement. It was shown that the church interior housing the altarpiece can be heated to 11 °C during the cold season to provide human comfort. The allowable duration of intermittent heating events to more comfortable 18 °C that would induce drops in RH of up to 40% was assessed as 12 h. The study demonstrated that moving the sculptures to the conservation studio would have to be done with extreme caution as it would be connected with risks depending on the depth of existing cracks and the duration of the RH change.

Keywords

• Wooden sculptures
• Lime wood
• Veit Stoss’ altarpiece
• Risk of fracture
• Indoor environment
• Preservation of cultural heritage