Horizontal Support Displacement of a Thin-Tile Masonry Dome: Experiments and Analysis
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29, Issue 2
Abstract
A half-scale physical model of a thin-tile masonry dome designed by Rafael Guastavino, Jr. that is located in the Nebraska State Capitol Building is constructed and tested both nondestructively and destructively to determine the load paths of the structure as well as the reactions at the support. A corner support of the model dome is incrementally displaced horizontally and the resulting crack locations are identified. Additionally, a linear finite element model of the dome, validated with experimental modal analysis, is modified to perform nonlinear analysis where loads are placed on the dome and the resulting stresses and reactions determined. The results from the nonlinear finite element model are then compared to the destructive testing carried out on the constructed physical model. From the results of both the nondestructive and destructive testing, it is determined that the thin-tile masonry dome in question acts as a pendentive dome, which exerts horizontal thrust as well as vertically transmitting a portion of the load to the supporting columns. Additionally, the results show that the quarter points of the arches and dome webbing pendentives experience the highest stress levels under both vertical loading at the crown and horizontal support displacement, and as such are the most susceptible to initiate the system failure.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge and thank ANSYS for the academic use of their software program.
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29 • Issue 2 • April 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 24, 2012
Accepted: Jul 2, 2013
Published online: Jul 4, 2013
Discussion open until: Dec 17, 2014
Published in print: Apr 1, 2015
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