Masonry Arches: Historical Rules and Modern Mechanics

Abstract

Ancient structures have been designed according to semi-empirical rules based on few simplified mechanical principles; nevertheless, their structural performance is rather good in the majority of cases. In this article, the ancient rules for masonry bridges and arches, derived from some historical manuals, are analyzed on the basis of modern mechanics. Some issues on the material mechanical characteristics and on the structural response of masonry arches allow a better understanding of the structural performance and response of old arch structures.

Metodología para el análisis de puentes históricos aplicada al puente de Jaraicejo. Historia y evolución de fases constructivas

“…There are other possible historical structure research methods with non-destructive techniques that are complementary to the one developed here: georadars, infrared thermography, sonic methods, conductivity measurements acoustic emission (2), laser scanning (3) or photogrammetric rectification (4), or structural analyses based on finite elements (5), (6), (7). The use of these methods cannot omit two fundamental matters: historical sources and visual analysis.…”

Upper bound sequential linear programming mesh adaptation scheme for collapse analysis of masonry vaults

“…Limit analysis theorems associated with FEs, both in the static and kinematic version, are still the most effective and widespread procedure to estimate the collapse loads of one dimensional arches [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Indeed, limit analysis combines, on one hand, sufficient insight into collapse mechanisms, ultimate stress distributionsat least in critical sections -and load capacities, and on the other hand, simplicity to be cast into a practical computational tool.…”

Controlled Intervention: Monitoring the Dismantlement and Reconstruction of the Flying Buttresses of Two Gothic Churches

“…For background information on the structural behaviour of arches and vaults, the reader is referred to works on masonry arches and vaults and studies on the general behaviour of Gothic structures (Heyman 1969(Heyman , 1997Smars 2000;Brencich and Morbiducci 2007;Barthel 1993;Block 2009;Huerta 2004). …”