Structural Repair and

Acknowledgement for the front cover illustration is made to G. Tanyeli and U. Tanyeli
for the use of Figure 5, on page 20, from their paper in Section l. Maintenance of Historical
Buildings

Editor:
C.A. Brebbia

Computational Mechanics Publications

Southampton Boston

Birkhauser Verlag Ba..<>el Boston Berlin

Structural Analysis of the Equestrian Monument to
Marcus Aurelius in Rome
G. Accardo, D. Amodio*, P. Cappa*, A. Bennici,
G. Santucci*, M. Torre
Central Institute for the Restoration, Rome, Italy
* Department of Mechanics and Aeronautics, 'La Sapienza'
University, Rome, Italy

ABSTRACT

The Marcus Aurelius equestrian monument has been analyzed by the

finite element method. The stress and strain fields, relevant to
the rider load and thermal effects have been calculated. The
finite element model has been used to evaluate the best constraint
conditions between the monument and its pedestal and to design
an internal stiffening frame. The numerical results have been
validated by evaluating experimentally strains and displacements
in the horse occuring due to loading by the rider.

INTRODUCTION

Acting on behalf of the'Comune di Roma', the Central Institute

for the Restoration of the 'Ministero per i Beni Culturali ed
Ambientali' is taking care of the restoration work of the
equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius, the bron;~e, hand-
manufactured in the second century BC placed, during the six-
teenth century, on the Capitoline Hill in Rome (Ackerman 1 ,
Gregorovius2). The monument, standing on astone base, is con-
structed of two different parts: the horse, with a raised front
right leg, and the effigy of the emperor, rested on the edge of
a large ho le localized in the upper p art of the animal. The
restoration work necessitated the disassembly of the statue
into the two constituent pieces, the disconnection of the horse
f~om its ancient pedestal and the transfer of the group to the
Physics Laboratory of the Institute. The horse is now resting
on a steel frame which has been previously used to protect it
during transportation (figure 1).

Before daing any work on the monument, the Central Institute for
the Res !;oration executed a long seri es of historical and experi-
mental investigations. Among them here we will mention those
aiming to obtain a deeper knowledge about the techniques used
for casting and assembling the statue (Marabelli3); we should
al so mention tl!e investigations on the chemical composi ti•:m an d
582 Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings
on the chemical-physical and mechanical properties of the alloys
used (Cesareo4). Photogrammetry and non destructive (ultrasonic)
techniques have also been used to obtain information on the mon-
ument geometry ~shape, dimensions and thickness distribution)
(Sena5, Canella ) and on the structural integrity (presence of
holes, inclusions, weldings and cracks) (Micheli7). At the same
time the nature and extent of P§evious restoration work has
been carefully evaluated (Tabak ). Finally the temperature field
in the monument has been carefull~ analyzed throughout the day
and in different seasons (Accardo , CanevalO). . effect due to irnposed displacements.
During such preliminary investigations, the Physics and Environ-
ment Control Laboratory of the Central Institute for the Restor-
ation, and the Department of Mechanics and Aeronautics of Rome
Universi ty 1 La Sapienza 1 h'ave carri ed out a study on the struct-
ural stability of the monument (Accardo 11 , Santucci12). The
verification of the stress distribution in the horse, due to the
rider weight, has been the main aim of this study. Then the
thermal stresses due to the non uniform environment temperature
distribution have been evaluated. Looking toward the future,
and the replacing of the monument onto its base, the best re-
straining conditions have been studied in order to reduce the
stress level in the horse. At the same time investigations have
been carried out on the possibility of creating an internal
stiffening frame to partially release the weight of the rider
on the horse. The study has been carried out using finite ele-
ment models validated by measuring horse displacements during
loading and unloading.
FINITE ELEMENT MODEL
365 shell elements and 406 nodes have been used to model the
horse body: the tail and the head were not introduced in the
model. The lower part of the three load-bearing legs have been
modelled by beams of circular section. A series of radially
placed high stiffness beams link each lower part of the legs to
the shell elements belonging to the upper part of the legs.
Square section beams have also been used to model the stiffening
cross introduced in previous centuries to consolidate the edges
of the holes on which the rider is resting. The thickness of
each shell element has been obtained by ultrasonic investigations.
The material forming the elements has been assumed to be iso-
tropic and homogeneous. Mechanical tests were carried out on
specimens whose chemical properties were very close to the real
ones. Those tests suggested that one should assume the value of
85 GPa as the Young modulus, 0.3 as Poisson coefficient, 0.000018
0 c-1 as thermal expansion coefficient and 80 kN/m3 as weight
density.
The restraints linking the monument to its base have been simul-
ated in different ways depending on the aims of the calculation.
As far as the model validation is concerned the leg tips have
been restrained in the same way as they are on the transportation
Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings 583
frame, because the validation measurernents have been carried out
in those conditions. In order to evaluate the best way to re-
strain the legs of the horse when it is standing on its stone
pedestal, a simple supported, a complete restraining or an inter-
mediate solution have been taken into account in the numerical
model. In a further calculation a plate linking the three loaded
leg tips has been introduced in the finite element model. This
plate allows the study of the thermal effect due to different
heating between the bronze rnonument and the stone base and the
Different loads have been applied to the horse depending on the
aims of the calculations. For the model validation only the rider
weight has been considered. Accurate measurements indicated as
6.2kN the rider weight. This was subdivided in equal parts and
applied on the 18 nodes placed on the hole edge in the upper part
of the horse. For the constraint optimization also the whole
weight of the monurnent has to be taken into account; in this
case vertical forces simulated the weight of the missing head and
tail.
RESULTS OF CALCULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS
The calculations have been carried out by the finite element code
SAP. Figure 2 shows the model and its deformed shape, obtained
by loading the structure with the rider weight only and with
simple restraining hypothesis (the displacernent scale is 200
times the one used for nodal coordinates). Figure 3 shows a
view of the von Mises equivalent stress level lines on the ex-
ternal surface of the horse. The figure shows that the maximum
stress value is localized on the connection between the front
left leg and the.horse body.
The strain and displacement results have been validated by experi-
rnental measurements. Displacements ha ve been measured by linear
variable differential transformers on the raised leg; strains
have.been measured by using an electrical resistance strain gauge
localized where the calculation results indicated there are rnax-
imum values of the three displacement components examined.
Figure 5 shows the experimental and numerical principal strain
localized on the front left leg. The exarnination of these figures
shows an acceptable agreement between calculated and measured
values so that the finite elernent model can be considered vali-
dated and therefore has been used to perform further investigation.
CHOICE OF BEST CONSTRAINING METHOD
Figure 6 shows the highest equivalent stress values on the exter-
nal and internal horse surfaces obtained by different constraint
hypotheses. In this figure only the rider weight has been taken
into account while in Figure 7 the whole weight of the monurnent
has been considered. Among the different constraint solutions
the imposed displacement at the leg tips seems to be the best
584 Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings
of the possibilities. In the finite element model these imposed
displacements have been obtained by a thermal dilatation (positive
or negative) of the base shell element whose stiffness is extrem-
ely high. A previous investigation indicated the best imposed
displacement at the leg tips in order to minimize stresses as
shown in Figure 8 for the Rider t-Jeight Lo ad ( RWL) an d for the
whole Monument Weight Load (MWL). The relative leg tip displace-
ment which gives the minimum stresses is about 0.1% and this value
has been used in Figures 6 and 7 to determine the best constrain-
ing solution.
INTERNAL FRAME SUPPORTING. THE RIDER
Finally a stainless steel frame structure has been designed to
get the rider supported directly by the horse legs in order to
unload the body of the horse. 22 beams form this frame: their
sections are hollow and circular with 5 mm thickness and 30 mm
diameter. In 1835, G Spagna filled the legs with low casting
temperature alloys so that they are now very rigid and robust
and able to support the rider load with a low stress level.
Figure9 shows the frame mounted inside the horse body; the
rider weight is applied on the frame top. A comparison between
the deformed shape of the frame, shown in Figure 9 and in Figure
2, indicates the stiffness increase obtained in the horse; the
stress level reduction is shown in Figure 6. Examination of
Figure 7 indicates that the stainless steel frame weight nearly
eliminates the benefits the frame itself introduces, so that a
lighter weight frame such as an aluminium alloy frame may be
recommended.
CONCLUSIONS
The decision on what type of restoration work to undertake far
the case of composite large dimension monuments such as the
equestrian cast of Marcus Aurelius demands careful analysis of
the mechanical behaviour of the statue structure. The uniqueness
of such a monument and its immense cultural value requires one
to use as little modification as possible. When stiffening
structures are designed it is necessary to analyze their effect
on the monument without actually having to build and mount such
structures. The finite element method provides a valid help to
choose the more effective restoration work on the monument
structure. In this paper one is shown how to use this method
and its integration with experimental techniques. The procedure
adopted in this case can be easily generalised to find a system-
atic methodology to be followed in the future. To obtain a
reliable finite element model of the monument a deep knowledge
of the geometry, the mechanical properties of the material an~
the load nature and intensity are required. Once one has verl-
fied, by appropriate experimental techniqeus, that the finite
element model is able to simulate the real behaviour of the
monument it is possible to use this tool in order to undertake
structural restoration.
Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings 585
REFERENCES
l Ackerman J S, M Aurelius on the Capitoline Hill, Renaissance
News, Val 2, PP 69-75, 1957.
2 Gregorovius F, Storia della Citta di Roma nel Medio Evo,
Einaudi editore, Torino, 1973.
3 Marabelli M, La struttura e le tecniche di fabbricazione,
Marco Aurelio- Mostra di cantiere (Catalogue), PP 39- 41,
ICR, Rome, Italy, 1984.
4 Cesareo R, Ferretti M, Guida G and Marabelli M, Le leghe: il
metodo e i risultati, Marco Aurelio - Mostra di cantiere
(Catalogue), PP 42- 44, ICR, Rome, Italy, 1984.
5 Sena C, Rilievo mediante metodi della 'Fotogrammetria del
Vicino' della statua equestre di Marco Aurelio in Roma,
Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Non-
destructive Testing in Conservation of Works of Art, Rome,
Italy, 1983.
6 Canella G, Marabelli M, Marano A and Micheli M, Esame
ultrasonoro della statua equestre del Marco Aurelio,
Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Non-
destructive Testing in Conservation of Works of Art, Rome,
Italy, 1983.
7 Micheli M, Indagine radiografica della statua equestre di
Marco Aurelio, Proceedings of the 1st International
Conference on Non-destructive Testing in Conservation of
Works of Art, Rome, Italy, 1983.
8 Tabak G, Nota sul rest.auro del Marco Aurelio al tempo di
Gregorio XVI, Rassegna Archivi di Stato, XLII, I, Rome,
Italy, 1982.
9 Accardo G et al, Il sistema ambiente-monumento, Marco
Aurelio- Mostra di cantiere (Catalogue), PP 65- 70, ICR,
Rome, Italy, 1984.
10 Accardo G, Caneva C and Massa S, Stress monitoring by
temperature mapping and acoustic emission analysis: a case
study of Marcus Aurelius, Studies in Conservation, 28,
pp 67 - 74, 1983.
11 Accardo G, De Santis P, Gori F, Guattari Gand Webster J M,
The use of Speckle Interferometry in the study of large
works of art, Journal of Photographic Science, Vol 33, No 5,
pp 174 - 176, 1985.
586 Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings 587
12 Accardo G, Santucci G, Metodo di calcolo agli elementi finiti
e misure estensimetriche per l'analisi strutturale di
manufatti storico-artistici, 2nd International Conference on
Non-destructive Testing, Microanalytical Methods and Environ-
ment Evaluation for Study and Conservation of Works of Art,
Perugia, Italy, 1988.

Figure l. The Horse of Marcus Aurelius

Figure 2. The Finite Element Mode! and its Deformed Shape

 Structural Repair & Maintenance of Ristori ca] Buildings 589
588 Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings
ABS. DISPLACEMENT (mm)
3.0r-----------~--~------------------------~

1.5

1.0

0.5

y z
Dìsplacement dìrectìon
~ Dil'!.Transr. ~ Photogram. C Calcul.Slid. IT:] Ca!cul.Pin

Figure 4. CornpariBon of diBplacements

STR<\IN ( m/m)
lOOr---------------------------------------------~

-50 ·····~······

Figure 3. The von Mises equivalent Stress Map

a) lateral view 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
b) upwards from botto m vie w
Straìn gauge number
E:J EPS.l CALC. ~ EPS.l MEAS. c::J EPS.2 CALC. ~ EPS.2 !.LEAS.

Figure 5.CompariBon of principal Btrains

590 Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings
Structural Repair & Maintenance of Historical Buildings 591
MAX. EQUIV. STRESS [daN/mm~2] 4 MAX. EQUIV. STRESS (daN/mm~2]
1.4,-------------~------~-----------------------,

l l

31l~ . . . . . . .. l

~~~ ································ ········· ·········································· ········ ················· .............. !

i

'~~~·
l
l
.. j.
l ~ ~
'(··················~ .. -----..::::::
......... ~ l
l
l
0~--~~--~~--~----~------~___j!
l
-0.3 0.2
- o. l .o 0.1
SL!DING PINS FIXED JOINT IMP.DISP. INT.FRAME 0.2 0.3
Relative displacement l%J
~ EXT.SURF. c«..>J INT.SURF. -+- INT.SUP.F.RWI.
--i'- EXT.SURF.RWI. --7-- INT.SURF.MWI.
--,;;,._ EXT.SuPJ".MWI.
Figure 6. Effect of the constraints Figure 8. Effect of the imposed
(rider weight RWL) displacement of the constraints
MAX. EQUIV. STRESS [daN/mm~2]
3.0r,------------~~------~----------------------,

l
2.5 f-········································································

LO

0.5

SLIDING PINS FIXED JOINT IMP.DISP. INT.FRAME

~ EXT.SURF. ~ INT.SURF.
Figure 7. Effect of the constraints Figure 9. The Finite Element Model
with Internai Frame
(total weight Mli'L) and its Deformed Shape