Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
267493 | Engineering Structures | 2012 | 12 Pages |
The assessment of the load-carrying capacity of old masonry vaults loaded in longitudinal compression by pre-tensioned reinforcing bars, accounting for both material and geometrical nonlinearities, appears to be a difficult task, so far unattempted. Here, we consider a real case, both analytically and by means of the Finite Element Method (FEM), studying the effects of several factors on the maximum applicable compression: description of the material nonlinearity, self-weight, structural reinforcements such as extradossal ribs and internal buttresses, boundary conditions, geometrical imperfections.
► Calculation of the collapse load of a longitudinally compressed masonry vault. ► New FEM model for an old masonry vault made by contacting arches. ► FEM comparison of the effects of several factors on the collapse load for the problem above.