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The Structural Effects of Micro-Geometry on Masonry Vaults

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Abstract

Masonry vaults are able to withstand their dead load and external forces thanks to their curved surface, therefore geometry plays a major role in their structural behaviour. Besides the well-known effects of the macro-geometry (overall shape and dimensions), micro-geometry (details of the masonry apparatus) is also expected to play a key role. The study seeks to determine the advantages (constructional and structural) that a specific masonry apparatus offered for simple forms like barrel vaults and more complex forms like cross vaults. It is carried out, firstly, through a critical review of the European technical literature concerning vault construction with particular focus on brick laying techniques; then, numerical approach is adopted to scientifically investigate the role of micro-geometry on the static behaviour of barrel and cross vaults subjected to self-weight. Comparison of results allows observing different structural behaviour (displacement field, elastic stiffness, reaction forces) for different brick patterns and provides a scientific validation to some speculations found in historical technical literature.

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Acknowledgements

All figures are by the authors unless otherwise indicated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Mattioli, 39, 10125, Torino, Italy

    Marco Alforno, Fiammetta Venuti & Alessia Monaco

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  1. Marco Alforno
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  2. Fiammetta Venuti
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  3. Alessia Monaco
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Correspondence to Marco Alforno.

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Alforno, M., Venuti, F. & Monaco, A. The Structural Effects of Micro-Geometry on Masonry Vaults. Nexus Netw J 22, 1237–1258 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-020-00499-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-020-00499-9

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