Historical iron tie-rods within masonry vaults: Compared study of their structural behaviour

This paper analyses the tie-rods found in a paradigmatic case-study, the Santa Casa di Tresivio, which underwent several reinforcement interventions through the last two centuries according to the contextual physical understanding of the arch mechanics. Furthermore, these tie-rods were implemented to vaults defined by a variety of geometries and thrust behaviour, offering an interesting range of structural cases. The different solutions are analysed making use of the FEM modelling and simulation possibilities. The structure is modelled taking into account to the nonlinear and cracking nature of masonry vaults, and the interaction between the masonry and the tie-rod. Several scenarios are taken into account: the actual state of the structure under the existing conditions, the possibility of a seismic event, and foundation settlements as were observed in the real case. The simulation makes possible the direct comparison of the constructive solutions, and the study of the enhancement of the structure when confronting these actions.