{"id":95033,"date":"2024-10-03T06:59:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T09:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufrgs.br\/jornal\/?p=95033"},"modified":"2024-10-02T12:15:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T15:15:55","slug":"phd-dissertation-innovates-by-applying-3d-technologies-to-research-on-hydraulic-tiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufrgs.br\/jornal\/phd-dissertation-innovates-by-applying-3d-technologies-to-research-on-hydraulic-tiles\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD dissertation innovates by applying 3D technologies to research on hydraulic tiles\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Social | In addition to identifying that three-dimensional digitization is an effective resource for heritage conservation, a study developed an instruction manual for the use and maintenance of these pieces<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

*By\u00a0Carolina Paz Comerlatto\u00a0
*First published March 7, 2024\u00a0
*Photo: the manufacturing process of the tiles took place at the F\u00e1brica de Mosaicos <\/em>
(Mosaics Factory), in Pelotas (photo: Thiago Thamay\/Disclosure)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was soon after moving to Porto Alegre that Thiago Thamay defined his research topic. Recently arrived from Para\u00edba to start his doctorate at UFRGS, the building of the Pa\u00e7o dos A\u00e7orianos \u2013 the old city hall \u2013 caught his attention on a first walk in the city center. In the entrance hall of the building, there were hydraulic tiles \u2013 the well-known mosaics \u2013 in critical condition. In addition, Thiago noticed something unusual: the floor was typical of a sidewalk, even though it was allocated in an internal area. “Then, I thought, \u2018here is my object of study\u2019,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since his undergraduate training developing research on heritage, specifically with hydraulic tiles, for his doctoral training, Thiago innovated by applying 3D technologies in the preservation of these materials. Supervised by F\u00e1bio Pinto da Silva, coordinator of the Design and Material Selection Laboratory (LDSM), the researcher wrote his doctoral dissertation<\/a> in order to contribute to the conservation of pavements of patrimonial real estate, promoting the production of knowledge about centuries-old manufacturing techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exploratory research used tools such as three-dimensional digitization, photographic record and documentary sources to obtain a broad and detailed knowledge of the study object. Based on methodologies adapted to this context, the work went through four stages: Anamnesis, damage analysis, intervention conduct and materials, and manufacturing processes. \u201cIn this area, many medical terms are used when doing research on the damage and \u2018pathologies\u2019 of a building,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bit of history<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Municipal Palace, completed in 1901, was designated heritage property by the municipality in the 70s. In the early 2000s, the building underwent a significant restoration process. During the project, the responsible team sought to preserve as much as possible the original floors that were in good condition. In the internal spaces where it was not possible to maintain the decorated smooth hydraulic tiles, it was decided to replace them with replicas produced by the F\u00e1brica de Mosaicos<\/em> from Pelotas (Mosaic Factory), allowing to recreate the old design and preserve the historical essence of the place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the shapes complexity of the hydraulic tiles with reliefs at the entrance hall on the ground floor has posed a big challenge. In the attempt to produce matrices for the conservation of the pieces, traditional mold manufacturing techniques proved to be unfeasible due to the detail of the drawings. It is in this sense that the researcher defends the search for creative and technological alternatives to ensure the proper conservation of such pieces, recognizing the intricacy of their details and their historical importance. \u201cBecause it is an integrated asset, it is also heritage property,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting it into practice<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

With the help of two scanners, Thiago obtained a panorama of the room’s floor wear. From this, the damage was mapped and classified into 13 categories, such as yellowing, fouling, fading, dirt, and loss of constituent elements. As Thiago explained, “most of the damage has happened due to lack of care and absence of important conservation measures, such as waterproofing and maintenance”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NIn the first part of the work, the researcher mapped the damage present in the tiles, such as abrasion and cracks. (Photo: Thiago Thamay\/Disclosure)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Through technical expertise and technology used in the provision of restoration services, the research project has found solutions for sanitation and damage. A crucial step in this process was the partnership with F\u00e1brica de Mosaicos<\/em> (Mosaics Factory) of Pelotas, whose production process<\/a> observation shed light on how three-dimensional digitization and CNC machining technologies could assist in the manufacture of inputs. The building where the factory is located is also an industrial heritage property of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage, the research engaged in the use of 3D scanning, printing, and machining technologies to integrate the design and technology in the hydraulic tile production process, specifically in the development of knives that would serve for the pieces production in relief of the ground floor of the Pa\u00e7o dos A\u00e7orianos<\/em>. “3D manufacturing and scanning technologies do facilitate things,\u201d points out Thiago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using 3D technology to make molds and embossing dies for the manufacturing process has proved to be an important tool for the evaluation of geometric deviation and accuracy of the method used. On the original floor, a manufacturing defect was detected, \u201cwhich is also a damage to the heritage property,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Molds created in the 3D printer of the UFRGS Design and Material Selection Laboratory to streamline the process and make the drawings of the new tiles more accurate. (photo: Thiago Thamay\/Disclosure)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Details<\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The hydraulic tile, originally of manufactured origin, is produced in steps that require a series of actions for each piece execution. The process begins with the choice of the embossing template, which determines the print pattern and the desired-colors selection. The plate also defines the engraving \u2013 it can be smooth-surfaced for indoor floor tiles or embossed for outdoor tiles. Even though it is an indoor area, the parts used in the hall of the building fit the second option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the research, four steel matrices were manufactured to make the tiles with the Pa\u00e7o<\/em> standards, elaborated by means of CNC (computerized number control) manufacturing with the aid of Computer Aided Design (CAD). For this, a previous prototyping was carried out, aiming at the due adjustments in the design, which remedied the damage of the manufacturing defect. According to him, 3D technologies have allowed manufacturing to be more precise and efficient and to explore the integration between design and technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the steel matrices produced by the research and used to make the tiles within the standards of the Municipal Palace. (Photo: Thiago Thamay\/Disclosure)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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According to the researcher, it is part of the plan that, in the future, when restoration work happens to be carried out in the building, the F\u00e1brica de Mosaicos<\/em> from Pelotas manufacture the tiles. “The restoration process is complex; it requires a lot of study. And it’s already done, the research is ready to be implemented,\u201d he concludes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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