Dataset for the dynamic and static loading of fibrous plaster ceilings, featuring in-situ monitoring, large and small scale samples
The dataset contains the predominantly excel spreadsheets for the dynamic and static loading of fibrous plaster ceilings. The dataset cover the in-situ monitoring of accelerations in a historic partner theatre, termed Theatre 'A' and the monitoring of accelerations, displacement and strain of laboratory large scale fibrous plaster ceiling panels, small scale sample tests include flexural, compressive and tensile tests. Tensile tests featured newly manufactured and historic material, with the newly manufactured specimens featuring both traditional materials and modern alternative repair material options. Tensile tests on wads were conducted at both the Diamond Light Source and in the structures laboratory. The compressive tests feature historic material.
Cite this dataset as:
Dams, B.,
Ansell, M.,
Ball, R.,
Harney, M.,
2025.
Dataset for the dynamic and static loading of fibrous plaster ceilings, featuring in-situ monitoring, large and small scale samples.
Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01510.
Export
Data
Accelerometer … roof space.7z
application/x-7z-compressed (440MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
This zip file contains the excel data of accelerometer sensors installed in the roof space of our partner theatre 'A'.
chain link … pushing no weight.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (1MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Accelerometer data for manipulating a chain against the side of the top hat on the laboratory large scale panel.
chain link … without again.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (1MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Accelerometer data for manipulating a chain against the side of the top hat on the laboratory large scale panel with weights attached to the base of the chain.
chain with … laterally braced.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (2MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Accelerometer data for manipulating a chain against the side of the top hat on the laboratory large scale panel, with the panel laterall braced and unable to move.
Compression … historic plaster.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (4MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains the data for the compression tests on historic specimens.
Flexural Test data.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (39kB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains the data for the flexural tests conducted on newly manufactured flexural specimens.
impact 6th … soft to louder.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (1MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains data where the steel h frame was impacted to induce accelerations in the laboratory panel of up to 15g.
Mary poppins … hat hole.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (32MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains accelerometer data for 15g and 100g accelerometers right by the top hat hole during the set up of the show Mary Poppins.
master flexural … samples.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (48MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains the data for the flexural tests on historic fibrous plaster specimens.
Panel 1 tests … hessian wire.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (66MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains data regarding lateral and vertical loading of the laboratory test panel.
Panel 3 tests … hessian.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (79MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains data regarding lateral and vertical loading of another laboratory test panel.
Pretty Woman 091123 SPL.xls
text/plain (348kB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains sound pressure level data for the recording of a musical performance in partner theatre 'A'.
DIAMOND LIGHT … FULL RECORD.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (98kB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
This contains the details of the wad tensile test experimentation conducted at the Diamond Light Source.
Master data … summer 2024.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (48MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Contains the data for the additional wad tensile tests conducted in the structures laboratory of the wad specimens which were not tested at the Diamond Light Source.
Creators
Barrie Dams
University of Bath
Martin Ansell
University of Bath
Richard Ball
University of Bath
Marion Harney
University of Bath
Contributors
University of Bath
Rights Holder
Coverage
Collection date(s):
From 1 September 2022 to 1 January 2025
Documentation
Data collection method:
Flexural tests: 160 mm x 40 mm x 6 mm thick samples. Based upon international standards BS EN 12390‑5:2019 section 7.2, specimens were subjected to a three-point bending test with a 50 kN load cell in an Instron 3366 Universal testing machine, which applied a displacement-controlled point load central to the specimen at a rate of 0.2 mm/minute. Compression tests: 40 mm x 40 mm samples. Loading was applied to the platens at the rate of 0.5 mm/minute until specimen failure in line with international standards BS EN 1015-11:1999. The Instron 3366 Universal testing machine was used. Tensile Wads tests: 2704-522 hydraulic grips were used to hold the wad specimens in place, such that the gauge volume was 75 mm above the lower grip. In-situ tensile loading, CT and XRD were performed at I12-JEEP in the external building experimental hutch 2 (EH2). Each specimen was loaded using a maximum 10 kN load cell uniaxial servo-hydraulic test rig on the Large Sample Table. X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT) was performed at initial 0 mm displacement (with a small preload of 0.04 kN applied to ensure the newly-loaded sample was ready to test), as well as at further distinct load increments in the elastic, plastic, and post-fracture regimes controlled by displacement at 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 4mm and 8 mm. Loading was applied at a rate of 1 mm / min to help reduce strain rate effects, and the sample was held stationary at each displacement value while CT data collection took place. There were five stacked CT scans per displacement level, with scans moving from the base of the ROI rising at 15 mm increments (y = 111 mm – base of the region of interest (ROI), 96 mm, 81 mm, 66 mm and 51 mm) and covering the entire ROI. A script was written by the beamline scientist to reduce the CT data down to 8-bit for further analysis at the University of Bath using Avizo software, with the resulting 8-bit files being 2560 x 2560 x 1188 voxels and the little Indian and x-fastest default settings used.
Technical details and requirements:
Microsoft excel. Instron 3366 Universal testing machine.
Additional information:
The data is accessible in Microsoft Excel.
Funders
Leverhulme Trust
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000275
An Overlooked heritage - revealing the fibrous plaster ceilings of the UK
RPG-2021-147
Publication details
Publication date: 9 December 2025
by: University of Bath
Version: 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01510
URL for this record: https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/1510
Related papers and books
Dams, B., Lunt, A. J.G., Kong, X., Wilson, J., Nauriyal, S., Ansell, M. P., Harney, M., Stewart, J., and Ball, R. J., 2026. The integrity of historic fibrous plaster ceilings under dynamic loading. Construction and Building Materials, 506, 144852. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144852.
Contact information
Please contact the Research Data Service in the first instance for all matters concerning this item.
Contact person: Barrie Dams
Faculty of Engineering & Design
Architecture & Civil Engineering
Research Centres & Institutes
Centre for Integrated Materials, Processes & Structures (IMPS)
