Geometry of the Mexican mendicant temples and its relationship with the damage caused by the earthquake of September 19, 2017

Abstract

The geometric configuration of the structure of the nave of conventual temples built by mendicant orders in Mexico during the 16th century and its relationship with the damage caused by the September 19, 2017, earthquake is studied. The area of study is the convent complexes of Morelos state, where the Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian mendicant orders built their first architectural works outsaid the Mexico City. The type of vault, arrangement and proportions of the architectural plan of the nave and its structural elements were considered. With these data and with the support of traditional structural rules, it was possible to classify the nave of the church and relate basic geometric indicators with the damage produced by earthquakes. This empirical method allows us to identify one of the possible causes of the damage level related to the geometry of the structure and can serve as basis for rigorous and detailed studies that consider other factors influencing seismic behavior.