EXPLORATION OF THE ABILITIES OF FREE-HANDED MASONRY VAULTS /
an empirical research on the possibilities of CAD and CAM
abstract
The construction of masonry vaults has recently regained interest. This fits within the current timeframe where ‘sustainability’ and ‘digitalisation’ have taken a central position. ‘Sustainability’ as a general value, and ‘digitalisation’ as a tool for the development of new types of models. The sustainability of masonry vaults has been proven throughout history and the digitalisation provides new form-finding tools. This led to the development of a whole new interesting range of spatial structures.
The participation in a workshop on this new type of vaulting, brought me closer to this subject and to the used method. Hereby, I experienced a dislocation between the construction process and the roots of masonry, the intrinsic properties of masonry. Two main comments on the used workflow can be made: firstly, on how these surfaces are developed, by only optimising the funicular properties of the structure many geometries which the vaults take on during construction are omitted. A second remark is on how the development of these complex surfaces leads to the need of equally complex falsework. The opportunity of trying to tackle these comments in an alternative way, forms the basis of this research. First we look back at the intrinsic qualities of masonry vaults throughout history, afterwards new opportunities are examined.
In the design of brick vaults today, mainly the final result is considered. The construction process, the way the vault is built, what kind of tools and supporting materials are required, the construction time, ... appear to be subordinate.
At the beginning of the research an evaluation is made of the historical methods and some specific case-studies. Throughout the historical research the value of the re-interpretation of historical principles is confirmed. By more thoroughly assessing the used methods, the underlying principles could be extracted. The acquired knowledge successively allowed us to transfer these methods to different kinds of geometries and compositions.
By relying on traditional methods and principles, the case-studies showcase a certain excellence through their specific and intelligent approach. The analysis of these structures allows us to determine the backing principles and acknowledge their value.
This research focusses on how the need for falsework can be avoided by adapting the design process. While at the same time we are looking for new vault geometries. This allows us to verify, in a next phase, how these construction specific parameters can be translated into generic parameters. These generic parameters can be used to design and construct different types of geometries. Additionally, the influence of these different parameters on the different construction stages are assessed. The construction stages which are differentiated are: the immediate stability, the temporary stability and the final stability. Through the evaluation of the building phase specific parameters, we can not only determine the influence of these parameters on the assessed construction stage, but it also allows us to compare the influence of the parameters on the other construction stages.
The evaluations are carried out by digital prototyping. The use of modern design techniques is evaluated. The extensive use of Grasshopper and Finite Element Analysis gave us the opportunity to examine a wide range of different structures through digital prototyping which would be unachievable through empirical testing.
The final part of the research consists of a design exercise. Here, the value of the rather abstract and theoretical results of this research is presented through a buildable model: a pavilion which consists of the aggregation and alteration of Gothic, Nubian and Mexican free-hand vaults. The combination and re-interpretation of the different assessed techniques, each with their specific parameters, can lead to new types of geometries which can be constructed without falsework. This illustrates the ability of free-hand masonry vaults.
In general, we can conclude the initial scope of this research has been obtained: the construction of a digital prototype of a masonry vault, which can be entirely built without the need for any type of additional support and by using only very simple tools, succeeded.
Free-hand masonry vaulting is not only a construction principle, but also a kind of mindset.
available for consultation on lib.ugent
year
2018
category
Academic Project / Master Thesis
mentors
Ruben Verstraeten
Willem Bekers
Sebastiaan Leenknegt
jury
Ruben Verstraeten
Willem Bekers
Sebastiaan Leenknegt
Nino Heirbaut
Arthur De Roover
design
Jerom Dhaenens