The integrity of historic fibrous plaster ceilings under dynamic loading

Barrie Dams; Alexander J G Lunt; Xinyi Kong; Jamie Wilson; Shivansh Nauriyal; Martin P. Ansell; Marion Harney; John Stewart; Richard J. Ball

doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144852

The integrity of historic fibrous plaster ceilings under dynamic loading

Barrie Dams, Alexander J G Lunt, Xinyi Kong, Jamie Wilson, Shivansh Nauriyal, Martin P. Ansell, Marion Harney, John Stewart, Richard J. Ball

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The collapse of the Apollo theatre ceiling, London, 2013, emphasised the importance of researching historic fibrous plaster ceilings. Ceilings are subject to dynamic forces, and this study identifies and quantifies dynamic loads in historic theatre ceilings by in-situ monitoring using accelerometers. Flexural, tensile and compressive tests were conducted on new and historic fibrous plaster to establish properties of ceiling panels and supporting fibrous plaster wads. Forces required to initiate microcracks and ultimate failure were compared with the magnitude of recorded accelerations. In-situ work made two important discoveries: technical activity in-between shows induces higher accelerations than performance sound pressure levels, and steel wire rope (supporting light/sound systems) making contact with ‘top hats’ (tubular channels in cylindrical drilled ceiling holes) is the primary dynamic loading in routine operation, with acceleration peaks typically ≈ 15 g (≈35 N force). Simulating accelerations in ceiling-panel laboratory tests resulted in displacements up to 0.1 mm and 200 microstrain. Results in new fibrous plaster established forces and displacements when initial microcracks occur in flexure (≈700 microstrain), tension (≈7000 microstrain) and compression (≈10000 microstrain). Results demonstrated that accelerations recorded in-situ would be insufficient to cause cracks in new, or well-maintained historic, theatre ceilings and wads. Ceilings in different buildings may vary in condition, therefore minimising steel wire rope-top hat contact would reduce the probability of ceilings sustaining damage. This study provides the first quantitative evidence of the dynamic behaviour and material performance of original wads and theatre ceilings, transforming understanding of their properties. Results will directly guide conservation policy and practice, enabling heritage engineers, conservation professionals, custodians and building owners, to make evidence-based decisions that enhance the long-term safety and preservation of historic interiors.

Original language	English
Article number	144852
Journal	Construction and Building Materials
Volume	506
Early online date	13 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144852
Publication status	Published - 13 Jan 2026

Data Availability Statement

The data for supporting this manuscript are available from the Dataset for the results of fibrous plaster tests, University of Bath Research Data Archive, https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01510.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully extend thanks to the following: Peter Tovey and the entire technical, managerial, maintenance and stage door teams of the Bristol Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol, UK; The Ambassador Theatre Group; Robin Harrison, Russell Hempstead and the whole team at Hayles and Howe Ornamental Plasterwork and Scagliola, Bristol, UK; Gary Buckley, Jon Riley and the team at Locker and Riley Artisans in Plaster, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, UK; Robert Attwood, Thomas Zillhardt and Genoveva Burca - Beamline Scientists at the Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, UK; William Bazeley, Neil Price, Robert Dyer and Martin Naidu of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, UK; Rod and Eric Stewart, Historic Plaster Conservation Services, Ontario, Canada; Claire Appleby, Theatres Trust, London, UK and Robin Townley, Association of British Theatre Technicians, London, UK. Bristol trchives, Bristol, UK and V&A Museum, London, UK.

Funding

The authors acknowledge the funding of the Leverhulme Trust, grant number RPG-2021–147 and the support of Historic England. We also acknowledge and thank Diamond Light Source for providing access to beamline I12 via experiment number MG35934–1.

Access to Document

10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144852Licence: CC BY

Dataset for the dynamic and static loading of fibrous plaster ceilings, featuring in-situ monitoring, large and small scale samples
Dams, B. (Creator), Ansell, M. (Creator), Ball, R. (Creator) & Harney, M. (Creator), University of Bath, 9 Dec 2025
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-01510
Dataset

Cite this

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title = "The integrity of historic fibrous plaster ceilings under dynamic loading",

abstract = "The collapse of the Apollo theatre ceiling, London, 2013, emphasised the importance of researching historic fibrous plaster ceilings. Ceilings are subject to dynamic forces, and this study identifies and quantifies dynamic loads in historic theatre ceilings by in-situ monitoring using accelerometers. Flexural, tensile and compressive tests were conducted on new and historic fibrous plaster to establish properties of ceiling panels and supporting fibrous plaster wads. Forces required to initiate microcracks and ultimate failure were compared with the magnitude of recorded accelerations. In-situ work made two important discoveries: technical activity in-between shows induces higher accelerations than performance sound pressure levels, and steel wire rope (supporting light/sound systems) making contact with {\textquoteleft}top hats{\textquoteright} (tubular channels in cylindrical drilled ceiling holes) is the primary dynamic loading in routine operation, with acceleration peaks typically ≈ 15 g (≈35 N force). Simulating accelerations in ceiling-panel laboratory tests resulted in displacements up to 0.1 mm and 200 microstrain. Results in new fibrous plaster established forces and displacements when initial microcracks occur in flexure (≈700 microstrain), tension (≈7000 microstrain) and compression (≈10000 microstrain). Results demonstrated that accelerations recorded in-situ would be insufficient to cause cracks in new, or well-maintained historic, theatre ceilings and wads. Ceilings in different buildings may vary in condition, therefore minimising steel wire rope-top hat contact would reduce the probability of ceilings sustaining damage. This study provides the first quantitative evidence of the dynamic behaviour and material performance of original wads and theatre ceilings, transforming understanding of their properties. Results will directly guide conservation policy and practice, enabling heritage engineers, conservation professionals, custodians and building owners, to make evidence-based decisions that enhance the long-term safety and preservation of historic interiors.",

author = "Barrie Dams and Lunt, \{Alexander J G\} and Xinyi Kong and Jamie Wilson and Shivansh Nauriyal and Ansell, \{Martin P.\} and Marion Harney and John Stewart and Ball, \{Richard J.\}",

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doi = "10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144852",

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AU - Lunt, Alexander J G

AU - Kong, Xinyi

AU - Wilson, Jamie

AU - Nauriyal, Shivansh

AU - Ansell, Martin P.

AU - Harney, Marion

AU - Stewart, John

AU - Ball, Richard J.

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Y1 - 2026/1/13

N2 - The collapse of the Apollo theatre ceiling, London, 2013, emphasised the importance of researching historic fibrous plaster ceilings. Ceilings are subject to dynamic forces, and this study identifies and quantifies dynamic loads in historic theatre ceilings by in-situ monitoring using accelerometers. Flexural, tensile and compressive tests were conducted on new and historic fibrous plaster to establish properties of ceiling panels and supporting fibrous plaster wads. Forces required to initiate microcracks and ultimate failure were compared with the magnitude of recorded accelerations. In-situ work made two important discoveries: technical activity in-between shows induces higher accelerations than performance sound pressure levels, and steel wire rope (supporting light/sound systems) making contact with ‘top hats’ (tubular channels in cylindrical drilled ceiling holes) is the primary dynamic loading in routine operation, with acceleration peaks typically ≈ 15 g (≈35 N force). Simulating accelerations in ceiling-panel laboratory tests resulted in displacements up to 0.1 mm and 200 microstrain. Results in new fibrous plaster established forces and displacements when initial microcracks occur in flexure (≈700 microstrain), tension (≈7000 microstrain) and compression (≈10000 microstrain). Results demonstrated that accelerations recorded in-situ would be insufficient to cause cracks in new, or well-maintained historic, theatre ceilings and wads. Ceilings in different buildings may vary in condition, therefore minimising steel wire rope-top hat contact would reduce the probability of ceilings sustaining damage. This study provides the first quantitative evidence of the dynamic behaviour and material performance of original wads and theatre ceilings, transforming understanding of their properties. Results will directly guide conservation policy and practice, enabling heritage engineers, conservation professionals, custodians and building owners, to make evidence-based decisions that enhance the long-term safety and preservation of historic interiors.

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DO - 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144852

M3 - Article

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VL - 506

JO - Construction and Building Materials

JF - Construction and Building Materials

M1 - 144852

ER -

The integrity of historic fibrous plaster ceilings under dynamic loading

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Acknowledgements

Funding

Access to Document

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Datasets

Dataset for the dynamic and static loading of fibrous plaster ceilings, featuring in-situ monitoring, large and small scale samples

Cite this