Analysis of the Structural Behavior of Masonry Arches and Vaults in Historical Heritage Buildings

Abstract

Historic buildings represent a fundamental part of cultural heritage. The finite element method is an invaluable tool to address different loading states, model complex geometries of masonry structures (vaults, arches, pillars), and simulate non-linear effects, both in material and geometry. In this work, the Ansys Workbench computational tool is used. Typical cases of arches are numerically modeled and complex cases of arches and vaults are studied in order to obtain a more realistic notion of the structural behavior that these elements present as their shape becomes more complex. Finally, a case study of a masonry vault is carried out. A map of plastic deformations consistent with cracking states caused by the state of self-weight loading and eventual settlement of the foundations is obtained.