Numerical Analysis of the Creep and Shrinkage Experienced in the Sydney Opera House and the Rise of Digital Twin as Future Monitoring Technology

A finite element model analysis predicts that the Sydney Opera House will experience minimal structural impacts from creep and shrinkage over the next 30 years, with only a slight increase in strain (0.090%) and prestress losses (32.59 kN per strand) by 2050. This suggests a shift in conservation efforts towards addressing minor surface cracking and water ingress rather than large structural concerns. The study also highlights the potential of digital twin technology for future monitoring of unique historical buildings, offering a cost-effective solution for long-term time-dependent analysis. The research utilized linear static and quasistatic analyses to investigate the effects of dead and wind loads on the prestressed concrete ribs.

Tahmasebinia, F., Fogerty, D., Wu, L. O., Li, Z., Sepasgozar, S. M. E., Zhang, K., Sepasgozar, S., & Marroquin, F. A. (2019). Numerical Analysis of the Creep and Shrinkage Experienced in the Sydney Opera House and the Rise of Digital Twin as Future Monitoring Technology. Buildings, 9(6), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings9060137