GreMa 3D: Lynxter 3D printer supports research into wind resistance of the Notre Dame Cathedral

2026-06-183 min.

Change language: Albania Bulgaria N. Macedonia Romania Serbia

In a grand international project dedicated to preserving architectural heritage, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris comes to life in a scaled-down 3D printed model. It is situated in the aerodynamic tunnel of The Interuniversity Research Center for Building Aerodynamics – CRIACIV in Italy – to study how wind impacts the renowned gothic structure. The technology behind the Lynxter S600D 3D printer is a key instrument, which allows scientists to study the future state of the building with unprecedented accuracy. BalkanEngineer.com learned more about the topic through the innovative company GreMa 3D, which specializes in 3D technology and is an importer of the Lynxter brand.

Climate changes put pressure on historical buildings around the world, including the Notre Dame. To analyze the effects of wind pressure on the structure in greater detail, a research team managed by Professor Paolo Vannucci from the University of Versailles, created a detailed model of the cathedral and its surrounding buildings in a 1:200 ratio. "The model was designed and printed using the Lynxter S600D - a large-volume, high-precision printer capable of reproducing the complex geometry of Gothic architecture. The thirteen parts of the model were printed in about two weeks and assembled with magnets, with holes for over a thousand pressure sensors integrated into each part," GreMa 3D explained.

The finished model is sent to CRIACIV – The Interuniversity Research Center for Building Aerodynamics. At the end of 2021, the model was placed on a rotating platform in the CRIACIV aerodynamic tunnel, used to test the effects of wind, based on different directions and intensity. The first results are extremely promising.

The next stage involves using the collected data to develop more accurate structural models and validation methods. The same 3D printed replicas will also be used to more precisely assess wind loads on the cathedral tower.