Abstract
Segmental arched forms composed of discrete units are among the most common construction systems, ranging from historic masonry vaults to contemporary precast concrete shells. Simple fabrication, transport, and assembly have particularly made these structural systems convenient choices to construct infrastructures such as bridges in challenging environmental conditions. The most important drawback of segmental vaults is basically the poor mechanical behaviour at the joints connecting their constituent segments. The influence of the joint shape and location on structural performances has been widely explored in the literature, including studies on different stereotomy, bond patterns, and interlocking joint shapes. To date, however, a few methods have been developed to design optimal joint layouts, but they are limited to extremely limited geometric parameters and material properties. To remedy this, this paper presents a novel method to design the strongest joint layout in 2D arched structures while allowing joints to take on a range of diverse shapes. To do so, a masonry arched form is represented as a layout of potential joints, and the optimization problems developed based on the two plastic methods of classic limit analysis and discontinuity layout optimization find the joint layout that corresponds to the maximum load-bearing capacity.
Highlights
Segmentation of Masonry Curved Structures throughout HistoryCurved structural forms, including shells, domes, vaults, and arches, are strong geometries [1] that can bear large amounts of external loads through the optimal distribution of materials
Masonry arched forms evolved in the form of precast concrete shells widely applied in contemporary architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry
Advances in computational fabrication such as additive manufacturing with concrete or digital stereotomy of stones map a promising future for the sustainable design and construction of freeform segmental masonry arched forms
Summary
Curved structural forms, including shells, domes, vaults, and arches, are strong geometries [1] that can bear large amounts of external loads through the optimal distribution of materials. Considering the friction of the joints to be finite, several studies were carried out to find the minimum thickness of semi-circular [22,23,24], elliptical [22], corbel, and triangular arches [25] with different stereotomy models such as those with radial, vertical, and horizontal orientations [17] Another good example carried out by Forgács et al [26] focused on the influence of three stereotomy techniques of (1) the false skew arch, (2) the helicoidal method, and (3) the logarithmic method (Figure 1) on the load bearing capacity of a skew masonry arch subjected to its weight and a uniformly distributed vertical load parallel to its abutments. These results, remain limited to corrugated interlocking faces at this stage
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