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Introduction

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From Corbel Arches to Double Curvature Vaults

Part of the book series: Research for Development ((REDE))

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Abstract

Structures of architectural heritage have inevitably suffered damage with time, and this is particularly true for vaults and domes. Earthquakes, soil settlements, material degradation and lack of maintenance are the main reasons for that. With Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), countries have pledged to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Within this goal, Target 11.4 aims to “strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural heritage”. In Europe, inside cathedrals, churches in general, common buildings, castles, towers and palaces the role played by curved masonry and wood structures, in the form of arches, vaults and domes are among the most well recognized. Arches are also very common and of major importance in Roman and Medieval bridges, as well as in aqueducts. The evolution from trilithons to arches, passing through corbel vaults was a Roman intuition; the further refinement of the idea, achieved in the Middle Age and Renaissance, to conceive structures resistant thanks to their geometry led in Europe to build double curvature structures and domes with impressive artistic value. There is an imperative need to ensure that these outstanding structures continue to be an integral part of local life, given the increasing level of support and expertise required to maintain them at a time when the limited resources in communities are becoming ever more stretched.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Polytechnic of Milan, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Gabriele Milani

  2. School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Vasilis Sarhosis

Authors
  1. Gabriele Milani
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  2. Vasilis Sarhosis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriele Milani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Gabriele Milani

  2. University of Leeds, School of Civil Engineering, Leeds, UK

    Vasilis Sarhosis

Outline of the Book Chapters

Outline of the Book Chapters

Della Torre S, Cantini L (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 2—Historical review of masonry arches and vaults. Trends in Historic Preservation and the relevance of understanding curved masonry structures. Research for Development.

Yuan Y, Milani G, Stockdale G (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 3—Survey and monitoring methods for masonry arches and vaults. Research for Development.

Garcia J, Martín C, Molinos R, Grau J (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 4—Digital Setting Out Techniques for Tile Vaults without Formwork. Research for Development.

Bianchini N, Gaetani A, Mendes N, Lourenço PB (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 5—Experimental behaviour of masonry: static and dynamic behaviour of arches and vaults. Research for Development.

Aita D (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 6—Revisiting classic methods for the equilibrium analysis of masonry arches and domes. Research for Development.

Hua Y, Milani G (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 7—Rigid block limit analysis of masonry arches with associated and non-associated slides. Research for Development.

Grillanda N, Chiozzi A, Milani G (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 8—NURBS-based limit analysis of masonry vaults. Research for Development.

Lemos JV, Gobbin F, Forgacs T, Sarhosis V (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 9—Discrete element modelling of masonry arch bridges, arches and vaults. Research for Development.

Ramage MH, Gatóo A, Al Asali MW (2022). From corbel arches to double curvature vaults: Analysis, conservation and restoration of masonry structures of architectural heritage. Chapter 10—Complex simplicity—Design of innovative sustainable thin-shell masonry structures. Research for Development.

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Milani, G., Sarhosis, V. (2022). Introduction. In: Milani, G., Sarhosis, V. (eds) From Corbel Arches to Double Curvature Vaults. Research for Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12873-8_1

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