Abstract
A lively controversy exists in the architectural historical literature concerning the functional role of many Gothic cathedral structural elements. The most complex of these is the ribbed vault which has never before been fully analyzed.
A 1∶50 scale model of two bays of the choir vaulting of Cologne Cathedral, constructed of cast epoxy, was tested. In addition, a finite-element analysis, based on the photo-elastic-model geometry, was performed. Stress resultants and reactions predicted by the two approaches are compared and the technical significance of the ribbed-vault form in Gothic construction is examined.
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Mark, R., Abel, J.F. & O'Neill, K. Photoelastic and finite-element analysis of a quadripartite vault. Experimental Mechanics 13, 322–329 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02322391
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02322391