PSI - Issue 79

Aikaterini Marinelli et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 79 (2026) 182–189

188

scenarios. The outcomes demonstrate the viability of applying advanced numerical modelling techniques for the assessment of heritage offshore masonry structures and offer a valuable foundation for future investigations. Nevertheless, there remains scope for further refinement and extension of the modelling approach. Potential improvements include the incorporation of more sophisticated material models to better capture the nonlinear behaviour of masonry and interfaces, as well as the implementation of fluid-structure interaction methods to more accurately simulate wave impact dynamics. Probabilistic or stochastic approaches could also be employed to address uncertainties in loading conditions, boundary constraints, and material properties. Importantly, the criticality of wave loading is expected to increase in the context of climate change, with projections indicating a rise in sea levels and a potential increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme storm events, particularly around the UK coastline (METOffice, 2022, Jenkins et al., 2023). These evolving environmental conditions may significantly exacerbate the structural demands placed on historic maritime infrastructure such as the Bell Rock Lighthouse. The project is valued by all partners, for its larger-scale potential to support the development of robust conservation strategies for similar historic maritime structures. For the NLB, it can offer a blueprint for rigorous, data-driven structural assessment, to facilitate proactive asset management and support long-term preservation planning for remote, culturally significant sites exposed to aggressive marine loading. Integrating evolving risks into structural assessment is essential to ensure the continued safety, resilience and conservation of offshore heritage assets. Future studies should therefore adopt climate-adaptive loading scenarios and consider long-term environmental changes to inform robust design, maintenance and preservation strategies. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Mr Aaron Cleghorn, a former student (BEng in Civil Engineering) at Edinburgh Napier University, for his valuable contributions to the early development of the finite element model used in this study. Sincere thanks are also extended to the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) for their support and collaboration throughout the project, particularly in providing access to relevant structural information and historical data on the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Their assistance has been instrumental in enabling this research. References Antonini, A., Raby, A., Brownjohn, J. M. W., Pappas, A. & D'Ayala, D. 2019. Survivability assessment of Fastnet lighthouse. Coastal Engineering, 150, 18-38. Asteris, P., Sarhosis, V., Mohebkhah, A., Plevris, V., Papaloizou, L. & Komodromos, P. 2016. Numerical Modeling of Historic Masonry Structures. Bathurst, B. 2000. The Lighthouse Stevensons: The Extraordinary Story of the Building of the Scottish Lighthouses by the Ancestors of Robert Louis Stevenson, Harper Perennial. Brownjohn, J. M. W., Raby, A., Bassitt, J., Antonini, A., Hudson, E. & Dobson, P. 2018. Experimental modal analysis of British rock lighthouses. Marine Structures, 62, 1-22. CEFAS. 2025. Wavenet Map [Online]. Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. Available: https://wavenet.cefas.co.uk/map [Accessed 22/9/2025]. Cleghorn, A. J. 2019. 3D Modelling and structural analysis of Masonry lighthouses with primary focus on the Bell Rock lighthouse. BEng in Civil Engineering, Edinburgh Napier University. D’Altri, A. M., Sarhosis, V., Milani, G., Rots, J., Cattari, S., Lagomarsino, S., Sacco, E., Tralli, A., Castellazzi, G. & de Miranda, S. 2020. Modeling Strategies for the Computational Analysis of Unreinforced Masonry Structures: Review and Classification. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 27, 1153-1185. Dassanayake, D., Raby, A., Ransley, E., Antonini, A., Monk, K. & Greaves, D. 2020. MODELLING THE WOLF ROCK LIGHTHOUSE. Coastal Engineering Proceedings, 32. Hurst, L. 2002. The Properties and Uses of Roman Cement. Construction history : journal of the Construction History Group, 18, 21-35. Jenkins, L. J., Haigh, I. D., Camus, P., Pender, D., Sansom, J., Lamb, R. & Kassem, H. 2023. The temporal clustering of storm surge, wave height, and high sea level exceedances around the UK coastline. Natural Hazards, 115, 1761-1797. METOffice 2022. UK Climate Projections: Headline Findings. Met Office. Murray, D. S. 2021. For the Safety of All: A Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses, Historic Environmnet Scotland. NLB 2023. Asset Management Plan. Edinburgh: Northern Lighthouse Board. NLB 2024a. Adaptation for Climate Change Progress Report. Edinburgh: Northern Lighthouse Board. NLB 2024b. Asset Management Strategy. Edinburgh: Northern Lighthouse Board. NLB. 2025a. Bell Rock [Online]. NLB. Available: https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/bell-rock/ [Accessed 02/10/2025].