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Author
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Krzysztof Słoma
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University
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Bialystok University of Technology, Poland
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The objective of the thesis was the analysis of the structure and digital reconstruction of a military airship hangar from the World War I, located in the historic area of the city of Białystok, in what is now Pietrasze Forest. The structure was part of the former aeronautical infrastructure and was intended for the maintenance and storage of military airships.
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The primary objective of the thesis was to reconstruct the most plausible structural form of the hangar, based on available source materials, archival maps, a Russian technical study on airship hangars, and the results of field research. During the field research, preserved remains of concrete foundations were identified, which made it possible to verify the location, orientation, and overall geometric layout of the structure.
Another key element of the study was a comparison of the timber variant with an alternative steel variant. The comparison covered the structure’s mass, global displacements, support reactions, internal forces, and approximate construction costs. The timber variant proved to be more advantageous in terms of mass and historical accuracy. The mass of the timber structure was approximately 470 metric tons, while the steel variant exceeded 1,200 metric tons.
The final result of the work was the development of a detailed 3D model of the hangar in Tekla Structures. The BIM model included the main timber structure, supporting trusses, arched trusses, purlins, bracing, foundations, steel plates, bolts, and selected carpentry joints. This model served not only as a visualization, but also as a technical reconstruction of the historic structure.
The analyses carried out confirmed that the timber airship hangar in Pietrasze Forest was a technically sound and historically justified solution. The reconstructed load-bearing system has a clear load-transfer path and can be regarded as an example of an advanced large-scale timber structure from the early 20th century.