Limit analysis of the Great Hall of Trajan's Markets in Rome using equilibrium methods
Name
757423732-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
8.14 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
d3c572a965813c8c9eeb572be173306a
Author(s)
Dreyfuss, Miryam Y. (Miryam Yael)
Advisor(s)
John Ochsendorf.
Date Issued
2011
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This paper studies the Great Hall of Trajan's Markets in Rome using equilibrium analysis to determine the limits of stability of its main vault under gravity loading. In particular, the capacities of three structural components were analyzed individually and as one system to compare the difference in stability limits. Recent studies of the hall that used Finite Element Methods predicted high tensile stresses in the structure, suggesting that there was a danger of further damage and potential collapse under seismic loads. This led to the installation of steel reinforcement systems within the vault and supporting structure. The objective of this thesis is to show that equilibrium methods are able to give an accurate sense of the viable states of the structure, and generally, that equilibrium methods are a more appropriate technique for analyzing highly indeterminate historic masonry structures. The results show that the range of horizontal thrust values increases dramatically when the supporting structures (lateral arch and buttress) are included. Hence, the supporting structures are critical to the stability of the vault under static loading. Furthermore, sliding between the travertine blocks is not a consideration under static loading of the vault.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 49).
Subjects
Civil and Environmental Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Persistent DSpace Link
