Experimental test on a fiber reinforced scaled cross vault subjected to shear displacements at the springings and numerical model

In the recent years, great attention has been given to the preservation of cultural heritage, and different research fields focus on restoration, conservation and strengthening of monumental ancient constructions. This has been great relevance especially in Italy, the country which holds the greatest cultural heritage in the world. This work aims to improve the knowledge of the behaviour of strengthened cross vaults subject to static shear deformation at the springers through experimental tests on a scale vault. The experimental tests was performed on a 1:4 scaled model built with timber and lime mortar representative of a Gothic cross vault from the aisle of the Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh (UK). This vault model was tested last year in its unreinforced configuration at the University of Edinburgh laboratory. This model was built again, reinforced through the application of FRP in different parts of the structure and tested again.. The results obtained by the test of the unreinforced vault have been compared with those obtained by the last test (with the FRP reinforcement) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this strengthening techniques. Non-linear numerical simulations have been performed by means of Abaqus software, using shell and tetrahedral elements, to interpret further the results of the tests and the effect of the FRP. The analysis was performed implementing a Concrete Damage Plasticity model for masonry and the results obtained through the different FE analyses, provide a valuable hint of the cross vault failure mechanism.