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CLIENT
Pennsylvania Southeast Conference
LOCATION
Alburtis, Pennsylvania
STRUCTURE
The Mensch Mill Barn is a timber framed barn fashioned with a stone masonry foundation and side walls, large timber truss framework, and painted bead board siding. For over 75 years, Mensch Mill has been a ministry site and is currently used as a religious retreat, with the barn being the general gathering space. They use what was the cattle stall area as offices, and the upper level for large gatherings and dances.
CHALLENGE
Our involvement originated from an observation that the structure was leaning precariously to the east and there was growing concerned about visible fractures at some of the timber joints. We were soon after retained as structural engineers to assess the situation.
SCOPE OF SERVICE
- Conducted a thorough physical inspection and assessment of the structure.
- Prepared measured drawings of the upper level structure and framing members.
- Recommended specific structural repairs and preventative measures to stabilize the barn
- Produced construction drawings and specifications for the recommended repair work.
SOLUTION
- We confirmed that the center bay of the upper barn structure was misaligned relative to the floor plane by nearly 25 centimeters over a height of less than five meters.
- We analyzed the issues and engineered remedial measures for the stabilization process.
- Measured drawings and specifications were prepared. The drawings included a step by step procedure for stabilizing the historic barn.
- We recommended 1) installing horizontal tension members to stiffen the structure and 2) bracing the existing columns to prevent against future lateral translation.
- We designed a procedure to salvage a fractured column using a steel channel splint to permanently secure the fracture point once the column was realigned.
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