Seismic response of a small-scale masonry cross vault: Experimental investigation by performing quasi-static and shake table tests

Abstract

The seismic safety assessment of 3D complex structural elements of historic buildings, such as cross vaults, is a challenge and experimental tests can provide relevant data for this purpose. This paper presents the results of two experimental campaigns in a reduced scale 3D printed vault characterized by asymmetric boundary conditions. The specimen adopted the typical geometry of groin vault (without ribs) and was made of polymeric bricks placed in an orthogonal bond disposition. The seismic behaviour of the vault was studied through quasi-static and dynamic tests using the shake table. In particular, an incremental dynamic analysis up to the collapse of the vault was carried out. The results obtained experimentally were analysed in terms of damage, collapse mechanisms, displacements, in-plane distortion and response spectrum-based analysis.

Shaking table testing of groin vaults made by 3D printers

“…λtime = (λgeometry) 1/2 . For a geometric scaling factor of approximately 5 to 10 (in agreement with scaling factors available in the literature for models of similar size [46]), this implies that dynamic time is scaled by a factor of roughly 2 to 3. It should be kept in mind, however, that the modelling is distorted relative to a real vault, since stress similitude is not preserved (e.g.…”

“…The global dimensions of the vault were adjusted to fit the capacity of table at EQUALS laboratory at the University of Bristol, leading to a physical model occupying a 2m x 2m area and standing at a height of 0.71m. (This model may correspond roughly to a scaling factor of 5 relative to a hypothetical 10 m x 10 m prototype with a rise of 3.5 m. Nevertheless, other scaling factors are possible [46]). The vault consists of 172 blocks, five of which have larger dimensions than the others.…”