Analytical modelling and the minimum thickness of three-centred arches
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/ic.6921Keywords:
basket-handle arch, limit equilibrium analysis, thrust line, oval, minimum thicknessAbstract
Equilibrium analyses of vaulted masonry structures, as well as the mathematical modelling of their structural behaviour, have gained prominence within researches on both historic structures and novel digitally fabricated designs. Thus, by revisiting the classical problem of limit equilibrium states determination, minimum thicknesses necessary to secure stability for the most common arch shapes have been recently computed. However, three-centred or basket-handle arch, which was prevalent in Renaissance architecture in the form of classic ovals, has not yet received the deserved attention in terms of its structural behaviour. Therefore, the present research addresses this gap by developing the analytical model for such arches according to thrust line theory. Numerical calculations carried out are based on the five-hinged collapse mode and provide the exact and valuable insights into the correlation between arch shape and the required minimum thickness, which is graphically presented for more than thirty arches.
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Funding data
Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja
Grant numbers 451-03-137/2025-03/200156
University of Novi Sad
Grant numbers 01-50/295
