Non-concluded covers of medieval churches in the Kingdom of Seville, Spain

Abstract

Sometimes, when we visit a medieval temple and we observe the ribbed vaults that are developed on our heads, it costs certain effort to suppose that such a complex disposition only turns out to be an elaborated reinforcement stone roof, since on them there is willing a cover (usually wooden) that solves the contact with the external weather. Most of the existent bibliography, treats this way the topic. Therefore, when we are carried out predictions on the mechanical behaviour, the fundamental load is the dead load of the vault.

However, there are places where the situation is different. The internal surface of the vaults takes place with similar geometries to those already known, but have more than enough its external surface a filler it is located on the one that a roof is built (sometimes passable). This inclusion has an enormous impact in the behaviour of the vault (mechanic, water, thermal changes, etc...). And on the other hand, when the covers are observed they are manifested as non-concluded. To contribute to conclude them and to preserve them in the time is the fundamental objective of this article.