Title: Inspection, Analysis, and Restoration of MIT Kresge Auditorium

Author(s): Edward Cohen, Norval Dobbs, and William Combs

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 85

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 31-94

Keywords: auditoriums; cracking (fracturing); deterioration; finite element method; inspection; nondestructive tests; reinforced renovating; shells (structural forms); stress analysis.

DOI: 10.14359/6536

Date: 4/1/1985

Abstract:
This paper describes the engineering procedures in the renovation of Kresge Auditorium which is located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. Described are inspection procedures used to determine any structural deterioration which may have occured since the building's inception. These procedures included visual inspection to determine cracking and other aspects which would possibly reduce the structure strength, pulse-echo test and chemical and petrographic tests of the structure's concrete as well as continuous monitoring of structure motions during remedial construction. To assist in this remedial work, a series of finite element analyses were performed to determine stress levels within the structure. These analyses considered initial construction stresses as well as increased stresses due to structure deterioration. Based on the above, a series of structural modifications were developed and implemented in the structure restoration.