Abstract
Abstract The new serious consideration to masonry and non-metallic structures evidenced their direct prospective to be, even in the present days, advanced architectural and engineering solutions. In the present paper, a form finding for a cement based tessellated pierced vault is studied. The multi-body rope approach (MRA) was used to define compression-only vault optimal shapes. Successively, the thrust network analysis (TNA) was implemented by Rhino-vault for a further validation of the shape and the definition of different tessellation meshes of the surfaces, according to different hole pattern configuration. Different piercing percentage of the vaults were considered and compared for the best solution identification. In addition, the geometrical solutions were analyzed by means of global stability analysis, taking into account the different positions of the holes. Furthermore, 3D printing with a Fuse Deposition Modeling (FDM) technique in polylactide (PLA) material (completely eco-friendly) is used for the construction of the formworks of the cement based blocks (dowels) useful for the assembly of a vault scaled prototype. The prototype of the vault, characterized by a certain piercing percentage was subjected to different loading conditions and monitored by a non-contact device based on the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. The 3D-DIC was performed to recognize the structural behavior during the loading process of the model (prototype). DIC measurements were used to recognize in advance the critical condition of the vault under loading and the displacement measurements were correlated to the different loading phases up to the collapse condition.
Highlights
The new serious consideration to masonry and non-metallic structures evidenced their direct prospective to be, even in the present days, advanced architectural and engineering solutions
The prototype of the vault, characterized by a certain piercing percentage was subjected to different loading conditions and monitored by a non-contact device based on the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique
The 3D-DIC was performed to recognize the structural behavior during the loading process of the model
Summary
Abstract: The new serious consideration to masonry and non-metallic structures evidenced their direct prospective to be, even in the present days, advanced architectural and engineering solutions. The proposed method for the definition of the form is based on a multi-body rope approach (MRA) with masses connected by inextensible ropes characterized by a certain slack coefficient and by a certain degree of the constraint conditions [7] This method appeared adaptable in the case of free shapes with standardized constituting elements. The models and the stability evaluations are performed in order to evaluate, given a starting configuration, the best and the worst evolution path for the increasing pierced area of the vault These last results are of particular interest considering that the possibility to realize new holes and openings inside existing vaults it is more and more frequent in the refurbishment of existing large roofs originally built in the past.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
