Strength analysis of rebuilt windows in historical buildings by the FE-method
(2026) In TVSM-5000 VSMM01 20252Structural Mechanics
Department of Construction Sciences
- Abstract
- The Machine and Assembly Hall in Varvsstaden (Malmö, Sweden) is a heritage industrial building currently being refurbished into office space. As part of the renovation, the historic cast-iron framed windows will be complemented by an inner insulating window installed approximately 500 mm inside the existing line, creating an air cavity and altering the mechanical loading conditions of the original system. This thesis evaluates whether the historic windows can withstand the modified load situation while meeting preservation requirements.
Finite element analyses were performed in Abaqus using measured window geometries and material properties from literature. Wind loading, thermally induced cavity pressure, and atmospheric pressure... (More) - The Machine and Assembly Hall in Varvsstaden (Malmö, Sweden) is a heritage industrial building currently being refurbished into office space. As part of the renovation, the historic cast-iron framed windows will be complemented by an inner insulating window installed approximately 500 mm inside the existing line, creating an air cavity and altering the mechanical loading conditions of the original system. This thesis evaluates whether the historic windows can withstand the modified load situation while meeting preservation requirements.
Finite element analyses were performed in Abaqus using measured window geometries and material properties from literature. Wind loading, thermally induced cavity pressure, and atmospheric pressure variations were analyzed individually and in combination for outdoor temperatures between −20 °C and +34 °C. Responses were compared for small and large windows before and after retrofit, supported by mesh convergence studies.
After renovation, the inner window increased stiffness and reduced wind-induced deflection, but the assumed sealed cavity introduced pressure-driven load cases that became critical under cold outdoor conditions. The small window developed higher local glass stresses near supported edges and corners, while the large window showed greater global deflection due to its larger span. Frame stresses remained below conservative reference values for cast iron, whereas glass stresses in most post-retrofit combinations exceeded the adopted screening threshold.
Overall, the retrofit improves serviceability under wind loading but may increase the risk of glass distress in cold scenarios due to cavity-pressure effects. Controlled cavity pressure equalization (ventilation) is therefore recommended to reduce pressure-induced demand on the historic glazing. (Less) - Popular Abstract (Swedish)
- Maskin- och monteringshallen i Varvsstaden i Malmö är en del av det tidigare Kockums-området, som under 1900-talet var en av stadens viktigaste industrimiljöer. Här byggdes fartyg som exporterades över hela världen, och området kom att spela en central roll i Malmös industriella utveckling. Hallen uppfördes 1912 och är idag ett kulturhistoriskt värdefullt industriminne som bevaras inom ramen för områdets omvandling från varvsindustri till nya verksamheter och arbetsplatser. En viktig del av byggnadens karak-tär är de stora gjutjärnsfönstren från byggnadstiden. Dessa fönster ger fasaden dess ut-tryck och är därför bevarade i samband med ombyggnaden. När historiska fönster inte-greras i en modern byggnad förändras dock deras... (More)
- Maskin- och monteringshallen i Varvsstaden i Malmö är en del av det tidigare Kockums-området, som under 1900-talet var en av stadens viktigaste industrimiljöer. Här byggdes fartyg som exporterades över hela världen, och området kom att spela en central roll i Malmös industriella utveckling. Hallen uppfördes 1912 och är idag ett kulturhistoriskt värdefullt industriminne som bevaras inom ramen för områdets omvandling från varvsindustri till nya verksamheter och arbetsplatser. En viktig del av byggnadens karak-tär är de stora gjutjärnsfönstren från byggnadstiden. Dessa fönster ger fasaden dess ut-tryck och är därför bevarade i samband med ombyggnaden. När historiska fönster inte-greras i en modern byggnad förändras dock deras lastförutsättningar. I hallen installeras ett nytt invändigt fönster bakom det ursprungliga, vilket innebär att konstruktionens mekaniska beteende påverkas trots att utseendet förblir oförändrat. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9223554
- author
- Badawi Alshaar, Zuha LU
- supervisor
-
- Kent Persson LU
- organization
- alternative title
- Analys av bärförmåga för ombyggda fönster i historiska byggnader med finita elementmetoden
- course
- VSMM01 20252
- year
- 2026
- type
- M3 - Professional qualifications ( - 4 Years)
- subject
- publication/series
- TVSM-5000
- report number
- TVSM-5267
- ISSN
- 0281-6679
- language
- English
- id
- 9223554
- alternative location
- https://www.byggmek.lth.se/english/publications/tvsm-5000-present-2014/
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-20 14:42:13
- date last changed
- 2026-03-20 14:49:03
@misc{9223554,
abstract = {{The Machine and Assembly Hall in Varvsstaden (Malmö, Sweden) is a heritage industrial building currently being refurbished into office space. As part of the renovation, the historic cast-iron framed windows will be complemented by an inner insulating window installed approximately 500 mm inside the existing line, creating an air cavity and altering the mechanical loading conditions of the original system. This thesis evaluates whether the historic windows can withstand the modified load situation while meeting preservation requirements.
Finite element analyses were performed in Abaqus using measured window geometries and material properties from literature. Wind loading, thermally induced cavity pressure, and atmospheric pressure variations were analyzed individually and in combination for outdoor temperatures between −20 °C and +34 °C. Responses were compared for small and large windows before and after retrofit, supported by mesh convergence studies.
After renovation, the inner window increased stiffness and reduced wind-induced deflection, but the assumed sealed cavity introduced pressure-driven load cases that became critical under cold outdoor conditions. The small window developed higher local glass stresses near supported edges and corners, while the large window showed greater global deflection due to its larger span. Frame stresses remained below conservative reference values for cast iron, whereas glass stresses in most post-retrofit combinations exceeded the adopted screening threshold.
Overall, the retrofit improves serviceability under wind loading but may increase the risk of glass distress in cold scenarios due to cavity-pressure effects. Controlled cavity pressure equalization (ventilation) is therefore recommended to reduce pressure-induced demand on the historic glazing.}},
author = {{Badawi Alshaar, Zuha}},
issn = {{0281-6679}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{TVSM-5000}},
title = {{Strength analysis of rebuilt windows in historical buildings by the FE-method}},
year = {{2026}},
}