The Structure of the Registry Hall at Ellis Island

Abstract

This thesis presents the historical and structural analysis of the Guastavino barrel vault at the Registry Hall on Ellis Island. The Guastavino Construction Company's innovative tile structures from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by their efficiency in material use and formwork, are not fully understood by many engineers, especially in terms of their structural behavior as unreinforced masonry structures. The unique aspect of the Registry Hall vault is its construction below a steel truss framed ceiling system, a configuration that has not been previously studied.

The primary objective of this study is to provide structural engineers with techniques for analyzing an unreinforced masonry structure in conjunction with a steel frame. Additionally, it aims to provide historical context by exploring how the Registry Hall structure fits into the history of the Guastavino Company. The structural behavior of the system is analyzed through three separate cases:

1. Graphical analysis for the vault alone (Case 1) 2. Finite element analysis for the truss carrying the entire system (Case 2) 3. Analysis of the combined system (Case 3)

Case 1 demonstrates the vault is stable on its own and the thrust forces are resolved in the columns. Case 2 demonstrates the truss has the capacity to support all loads, including the weight of the vault. Case 3 presents a third solution where the truss carries half the weight of the vault, indicating the two systems can work together effectively.

This study offers three structural solutions for the complex ceiling at Registry Hall, demonstrating that there are infinite solutions for Guastavino structures. This improved understanding of a Guastavino barrel vaults' structural behavior not only aids in evaluating the current state of Registry Hall, but also lays a foundation for analyzing historic masonry structures that incorporate a steel system.