Abstract Summary
Masonry vaults represent one of the most recurrent types of horizontal structural elements in architecture in European countries, even in areas characterized by a high level of seismic risk. Therefore, the evaluation of their structural safety and their mechanical behaviour remains of primary importance, and they are topics widely treated in the literature. This paper proposes to apply already consolidated structural analysis methodologies – on traditional vaults of historic buildings – on traditional vaults of historic buildings on a contemporary vaulted space and, in particular, the use of scaled vault model made of 3D printed for the experimental analysis. The aim, therefore, is to investigate the material characterization and the dynamic behavior of a newly concept vault generated starting from the “Flat vault of Abeille” patented in 1699. The reinterpretation of this vault and its use would allow both to enhance the existing Architectural Heritage and to characterize the realization of new buildings according to the guidelines of architectural restoration. It follows that the identification of this “new type” of vault is essential to design it correctly and to optimize the geometry for structural purposes. The scale of the vault model in 3D printing is 1:8. The material used for blocks is Polylactic Acid (PLA). All the blocks have an infill of 70% and are assembled with dry joints. The dynamic behavior of the vault was studied. The paper describes the results of the material characterization and the experimental tests analyzed in terms of crack pattern, damage/collapse mechanisms and ultimate displacements.
