Author
ROBERTO CAPOZUCCA University of Ancona

Abstract
In this paper the collapse load response of a brickwork barrel vault model is analysed. The model reproduces a real historical polycentric brickwork vault. The numerical method of analysis by F.E.M. may be adapted to describe the behaviour of the brickwork vault up to failure. Other well known approaches, based on the mechanism method, may be convenient to evaluate the safety. In this paper an alternative method of analysis is adopted represented by the energy method which may be used assuming that the masonry is an imperfectly elastic body, as indicated by CASTIGLIANO. The experimental results obtained by the collapse load test on the model are used to carry out the analysis by the energy method. Finally the experimental results are compared with the data obtained both by F.E.M.analysis and the energy method.