Wide-span timber trusses in the area of Bologna: a case study analysis and comparison

This paper summarizes a larger research project that used an innovative method to study several timber roof structures in Bologna. The research was focused on developing a support tool for analyzing the geometry and the structural behavior of these structural systems, utilizing a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) and point cloud geometric information via visual programming generative algorithms. In addition, the method has been developed to collect and trace data on various types of timber trusses and function as an information system. Specialized literature frequently oversimplifies the comprehension of these structural systems by basing its theories on structural analysis methods that originated in the nineteenth century. This approach typically needs a thorough understanding of material properties and structure deformations, which cannot be easily obtained. Innovative methods of research, as well as typological construction investigations, can help gain a thorough understanding of these objects. Such knowledge is essential for the conscious conservation of these amazing construction systems. This paper compares five types of timber trusses from the roofs of noticeable buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, associating their typological and construction characteristics with the geometric and deformative information from previous research. The study provides a deeper understanding of these objects in the Italian context by highlighting some critical issues.