RESEARCH ARTICLE


A Comprehensive Analysis Structure for the Design of Masonry Arches



Gabriel Stockdale1, Gabriele Milani2, *
1 Masonry Methods Inc., 11034 Crescent Drive, Nevada City, California, USA
2 Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milan, Italy


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Creative Commons License
© 2021 Stockdale and Milani

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, 20133Milan, Italy; E-mail: gabriele.milani@polimi.it


Abstract

Background:

Structural masonry framing has the potential to be an advantageous design technique for new constructions. The realization of this potential requires both design modernizations and accessible analysis methodologies. The focus and understanding of masonry frames have been directed towards the management and preservation of cultural heritage. This has resulted in an assessment approach to the analysis and duality of the term “masonry” to describe both a material and a method of construction.

Objectives:

The objective of this work is to differentiate masonry as a method and masonry as a material and to use this differentiation to present a comprehensive method-based analysis structure for masonry arches that is formulated around the need to control and optimize the system.

Methods:

This work presents an analysis approach that defines and utilizes kinematic equilibrium to establish determinant systems. This is achieved through the inclusion of a loading variable to a defined mechanical condition of the arch. The solution to the equilibrium equation sets is evaluated for admissibility through the examination of the thrust line and arch geometry. The simplified analysis is formulated into a simple software structure, a first-order assessment strategy, a characterization technique to link experiment and theory, and carried to dynamic modeling.

Results:

The results of the approach are the foundation and blueprint for a comprehensive, efficient, and adaptable structural analysis platform designed for the structural analysis of masonry frames.

Conclusion:

The developed analysis approach and supporting applications cover the base requirements for promoting the application of masonry frames for new constructions.

Keywords: Masonry arch, Load carrying capacity ruled by shape, Equilibrium at the ultimate limit state, Kinematic collapse load calculator, Structural analysis, Masonry framing, Masonry design.