Dynamic Identification and Static Loading Tests of Timbrel Vaults: Application to a Modernist 20th Century Heritage Structure

A critical insight from this study is that secondary masonry elements, such as upper slabs and extrados stiffening diaphragms, play an essential role in the structural behavior of timbrel vaults. These elements significantly influence both dynamic and static responses, necessitating their explicit inclusion in Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations for accurate modeling. The research employed a combination of laboratory and in-situ experiments, including dynamic identification and static loading tests, to analyze the Administration Pavilion of Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona. FEM models were used to simulate the observed behavior, highlighting the importance of considering these secondary structural components for precise analysis.

Endo, Y., Llorens, M. S., Roca, P., & Pelà, L. (2017). Dynamic Identification and Static Loading Tests of Timbrel Vaults: Application to a Modernist 20th Century Heritage Structure. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 11(4), 607–620. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2016.1277566