Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Seismic Response of Unreinforced Masonry Cross Vaults
Chiara Calderini1, Michela Rossi2, Sergio Lagomarsino3, Lucrezia Cascini4, Francesco Portioli4
1 Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa
Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genova, Italy
chiara.calderini@unige.it
2Institute of Technology in Architecture, ETH Zurich
Stefano-Franscini Platz 1 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
michela.rossi@arch.ethz.ch
3Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa
Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genova, Italy
sergio.lagomarsino@unige.it
4Dept. of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples Federico II
lucrezia.cascini@unina.it
fportiol@unina.it
Abstract. The present paper shows an experimental and numerical analysis to understand the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry cross vault. The experimental tests were performed on a 1:5 scale model of a cross vault made of 3D-printed blocks with dry joints. The seismic actions was experimentally simulated as a horizontal force proportional to the vault’s mass by using a quasi-static tilt testing setup. The vault 3D collapse mechanism and its strength expressed in terms of collapse multiplier was investigated, also considering the direction of the seismic action with respect to the vault’s base. The tests results were compared to those obtained from a numerical analysis using a rigid-block model based on 3D limit analysis. The model formulation allows to take into account both associative and non-associative behaviour. A sensitivity analysis on friction angle variation was also investigated to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of the model.
Keywords: Masonry cross vaults, 3D collapse mechanisms, 3D-printed small scale models, rigid block limit analysis, point-based contact model.
