Collapse analysis of slender masonry barrel vaults

The present work focuses on a particular typology of vaults generally used as roofs in religious buildings. These vaults typically do not include any backfill and are slender. These typologies of masonry vaults cannot be analysed with classical approaches where no-tension is assumed. In fact, the tensile strength must be included in order to assess the seismic capacity of these masonry elements. A simplified analytical model, which includes the tensile strength, was proposed. Validation of the analytical model is provided by comparing predictions of the load capacity and the failure mode with those obtained from previous shaking table test series on two full scale masonry vaults. The proposed method represents a useful modelling tool in order to design dynamic tests on masonry vaults and to assess their vulnerability.