D.I.C.E.A.A. - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Edile-Architettura e Ambientale
A linear elastic analytical model of curved beam with constant curvature, coupled with curved strings has been developed. To
model the connections between the strings and the beam, a continuous distribution of tangential and orthogonal linear elastic springs
has been introduced. To evaluate the behavior of the system, a numerical integration of the field equations has been performed. A
parametric analysis, capable of pointing out the influence on the behavior of the system of both the stiffness of the tangential connection
between strings and beam and of the geometrical characteristic of the beam, has been performed. The results of the proposed model
have been compared with those obtained from a finite element model. They show that the strings, in some cases, do not work as expected.
A linear elastic model constituted by two interacting concentric arches is developed. The sensitivity of the behaviour of the system
to its mechanical and geometrical parameters is studied to individuate the fundamental ones. The analysis is extended to the nonlinear
field by means of computational Finite Element models. Another objective of the research is to specifically analyze the interaction
between the two arches when there is a large difference in stiffness. A practical case is represented by the retrofitting of a masonry
vault with a single curvature (barrel vaults) with a reinforcing concrete layer that, in several case, resulted in the detachment
of some masonry blocks. Finally, on the basis of the results of the nonlinear analyses, which qualitatively confirmed the results
of the linear ones, a slightly innovative approach to the use of the reinforcing layers is proposed.
