Stability Interpretation for the Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs in Baekje Kingdom of Ancient Korea Using 3D Deviation Analysis and Microscale Behavior Measurement

The Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs in Gongju, Republic of Korea has been registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015 regarding the values as one of the representative cultural heritages of the Woongjin period (475 to 538 AD) in Baekje Kingdom. After the excavation of tombs, several damages occurred due to rapid environmental change. This study uses a 3D precise scanning to visualize microscopic changes in wall composition materials that are difficult to distinguish using sensors and record 3D shape information on vulnerable parts within the tombs. In addition, the obtained data were used to calculate the displacement during the study period through comparative analysis with the previous data of the tomb complex. Based on the RMS deviation analysis, no visible deviation was found in the tolerance ranges ± 2 mm and ± 1 mm. The results indicate that no additional cracks or detachment occurred in all vulnerable parts. However, the displacement analysis confirmed the sagging behavior for the lintel in the Tomb No. 5, which also appeared in the position transducer installed at the Tomb No. 5, indicating that minute movement occurred. It is estimated that the steel supports currently supporting the lintel are not providing adequate support due to corrosion, therefore reinforcement should be considered. The results of this study are expected to be applied as important basic data in preparing and processing conservation measures for the Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tombs in Gongju in the future.