Shape and Construction of Brick Vaults. Criteria, Methods And Tools for a Possible Catalogue

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The use of cloister vaults in the construction of noble buildings, as covering elements for square or rectangular rooms, is widespread and well-known. The geometric continuity at the intrados makes generally possible the execution all over the span of frescoes, stucco and decorations. The construction of brick vaults, from the late Middle Age, was sped up by limiting the centering to the wooden planks arches that were instrumental in the profile determination. Nowadays, the availability of several procedures, phases and tools for carrying out a survey allows to draw reliable assumptions about the construction methods and the execution time. It is mandatory to determine the properties of the binders, the shape and dimensions of the bricks, and to carry out a comparison between the geometry of the intrados surface and the evidences emerging at the extrados. The support of the laser scanner technique allows to accurately identify the surface profile and thickness. All these indications, in turn, are useful, in view of an interpretation of the structural behavior, to identify weaknesses, and to highlight contributing factors of instability (if any). The paper focuses on a well-documented case, the Magio Grasselli palace in Cremona in which the cloister vaults of two main rooms show different construction systems, although they were built almost at the same time. The thermographic recordings and laser-scanner surveys highlight the various arrangements used for the cloister vaults.

Knowledge-Based Modelling for Automatizing Hbim Objects. The Vaulted Ceilings of Palazzo Ducale in Urbino

“…In HBIM framework, with a scan-to-BIM approach, both local models and parametric families were used. Despite local modelling was frequently used in literature (Fiorillo, Rossi, & Morandi, 2021) (Brumana, Condoleo, Grimoldi, & Landi, 2017), research interests moved to the definition of parametric models able to produce synthetic vaults with different approaches. Attempts were made in order to define reusable families based on historical treatises and local constructive praxis through the combination of VPL and BIM tools.…”

Criteria and Tools to Catalogue Brick-Masonry Vaults. The Gis-Database of Frame, a Fasce and Planterian Vaults Between the 16th and 18th Century in Northern Italy

“…This paper is part of a wider project that has been developed on vaulted systems catalogues and databases since 2017 (Brumana, Condoleo, Grimoldi, & Landi Brumana, 2017).…”

Cyclic Tests on Thin Masonry Vaults Strengthened Through Composite Reinforced Mortar

“…The steel apparatus was designed adequately stiff, so to assume negligible its deformation in respect to that of the sample; loading cells and potentiometer transducers allowed the realtime monitoring of the load displacement story. More details were reported in [1].…”

“…The presence of vaults in traditional masonry buildings of the European architectural heritage is very frequent, with variations that differ for the historical period and the geographical ambit [1]. Among the different typologies, thin vaults, namely the brick "in folio" vaults, made of solid bricks laid flatly in a single layer, characterize several historical buildings in Central and Southern Italy [2].…”