ADELL, JOSEP1, MAS-GUINDAL, ANTONIO JOSÉ2, MENCÍAS, DAVID3

1 PhD Architect, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – ETSAM, Department of Architectural Construction, josep.adell@upm.es

2 PhD Architect, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – ETSAM, Department of Building Structures, aj.masguindal@upm.es

3 Architect, PhD Candidate, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – ETSAM, Department of Architectural Construction, dameca@gmail.com

The arch built in the Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, is defined as a double masonry arch parabolic and twisted geometry developed on a cylinder standing vertically. It is built using the process of stacking and post-tensioning precast blocks every 4 pieces (each 1 m height), which in turn rotate and fly slightly about in relation to the other in order to keep its geometry warped and can be generated with all easily a simple sheet of paper on which is cut the parable and curves generating cylinder warps the parabola on paper Each arc is stabilized, so that even, being made of masonry factory and post-tensioning, can remain standing for itself although the key which shows his forehead has been displaced in the vertical starts that show its header of the pieces and is why it is warped geometry acquires the parabola geometry. This type of new geometry allows a spatial resistance increase with a cheaper and simplicity constructive system due to an easy prefabrication type and the structural type chosen based mainly resisting vertical dead loads. The present paper presents the structural analysis showing the relationship between geometry and the easy way of construction.

Keywords: Masonry, Structural analysis, Arch, Parabolic arch, Twisted arch