DIGITAL MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF MASONRY VAULTS

Abstract. The focus of this paper is to discuss the peculiarities of the digital modelling of masonry cross vaults. The proposed methodological approach for a multidisciplinary study of masonry vaults will be focused on: geometrical survey, crack pattern, geometrical modelling, and safety assessment based on structural analysis.

Automatic reconstruction procedures recently proposed in the literature for ribbed masonry vaults, are used to overcome time-consuming modelling tasks. The created digital models take into consideration the different aspects of the three-dimensional geometry, the internal divisions with variations of material properties in different parts, and a suitable discretization for finite element analysis. Moreover, the same model can be used in BIM (Building Information Modelling), judged as a suitable environment in which to combine different aspects of the restoration works such as: documentation, intervention design, and the data system in an unique model. The same model is then used to perform finite element analysis. Each of these aspects is clarified with examples of different vaults typology coming from case studies as that of the church of St. Bassiano in Pizzighettone (Cremona) or the notable Milan Cathedral.