Structural Models for the Load-Capacity Assessment of Masonry Vaults

Limit analysis methods working under the well-known simplifying Heyman’s hypotheses are widely used for the safety assessment of masonry structures. The present contribution describes an analysis method working within the static theorem recently proposed by the authors in which the vault is modeled as a thin shell. The shell is endowed with an internal structure that stems from the arrangements of its constituent units. The proposed method allows for both membrane and bending forces to be present within the vault. The load capacity of the vault is assessed by searching for the minimum of a suitable objective function under the constraints represented by the equilibrium equations and admissibility conditions (no tensile stress along the joints). As a first validation, the method is used for obtaining some preliminary estimates on the stability of sail vaults under different constraints and loading conditions. The results obtained are critically discussed.