1735 - 1737 - 1745 - Barral Vault

Semester IX-A.B.C.M.
BARREL VAULT 05
1735- Krittika Jayachandran

1737- Devi Kulkarni
1745- Nitin Mhapsekar
INDEX
01 Definition, Disadvantage
02 Efficiency
03 Design- General thumb rules
04 Types
05 Joinery
06 Loading
07 Installation
08 References
DEFINITION
An arched structure , usually of masonry , used as ceiling or canopy or as a support for
the roof. Masonry walls are composed of wedge shaped pieces called voussiors , which
are held in place by the pressure of the neighbouring pieces. A temporary supporting
structure must be erected within the vaulted area during the construction.
It resembles a barrel that has been laid on its side and cut in half along its length; the top
is rounded and the bottom is flat.
A tunnel vault, or barrel vault, is a tunnel-like, semi-cylindrical extension of an arch,

which may be thought of as an unbroken series of arches pressed together, one behind
the other. It cannot be lighted except at the ends without being structurally weakened,
because, as in an arch, continuous abutment must be applied to absorb the thrust carried
down along the haunches to the walls supporting it. However, arches may be introduced
in the supporting walls and transverse ribs may be inserted in the vault to concentrate
thrust at a few strongly buttressed points, thereby permitting a reduction of weight and
thrust in the segments of vaulting between the ribs.
EXAMPLES
Sant’Andrea, Mantua, Alberti, begun 1462 BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS, ROME, 308-

longitudinal basilica 312
Coffered concrete vault
The nave is effectively the same as the Maxentian progenitor, with six barrel
vaults set perpendicular to a wide nave. The high barrel vault of the nave then
continues, beyond a dome, to form an apse and pair of transepts arranged
around the crossing, thereby combining two discrete classical types into a
newly unified Catholic typology. This particular arrangement proved highly
influential during the Church’s counter-reformation building programme.
Union Station Concourse, Washington DC, Daniel H Burnham, 1903-7
The shed is here signified by the architect as a shallow and impossibly vast barrel vault through the
use of coffering. This alternates with glazed regions that reveal the nature of the steel structure
behind;
Maisons Jaoul, Neuilly, Le Corbusier, 1956 (designed 1937)

Using the JACK ARCH vault as the base unit of spatial organisation in the houses, their additive
composition strongly recalls the hand-made, warren-like cumulative quality of ancient vernacular
examples. In structure of the vaults are a hybrid of masonry and concrete: spanning tiles are used as
permanent formwork for the concrete poured above, bringing the Roman technique of brick-faced
poured concrete
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Louis Kahn, 1966-72
proportions and clarity of longer types of Roman barrel vault, particularly certain
examples of cryptoporticoes (below-grade barrel-vaulted service corridors) with their
immersive sense of enclosure and eerily indirect light. The Kimbell’s vaults are vaults in
the sense that the image they give visitors is of a space very much rooted in that
tradition; however, structurally speaking, the ceilings are instead extremely long post-
tensioned concrete beams. Span= 30M
Silver Hut, Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari, Japan, 2008-11

TYPES
Long span
Span longer than width
Short span
span is shorter than width
1. Groin Vault:
The word “groin” refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults. A Groin vault is
created by two barrel vaults intersecting at right angles. The arches of vaults are
rounded or pointed.
A Groin vault also known as a Double Barrel vault.
2. Rib Vault
Ribbed vault is defined as the intersection of two or three barrel vaults. Rib vaults is
reinforced by masonry ribs.
There are two types of rib vault.
Quadripartite rib vault : When two masonry ribs dividing into 4 sections.
Sexpartite rib vault: When three masonry ribs dividing into 6 sections.
Fan Vault
A fan vault is a form of vault used in the Gothic style, in which the ribs are all of the
same curve and spaced equidistantly, in a manner resembling a fan.
Structure : The ribs of a fan vault are of equal curvature and rotated at equal
distances around a central (vertical) axis, forming the conoid shape which gives rise
to the name. In between sequences of conoids, flat central spandrels fill the space.
Examples : King's College Chapel, Cambridge Bath Abbey, South aisle
Cloister Vault
In architecture, a cloister vault or domical vault is a vault with four concave surfaces
(patches of cylinders) meeting at a point above the centre of the vault.
Structure: It can be thought of as formed by two barrel vaults that cross at right
angles to each other:
the open space within the vault is the intersection of the space within the two
barrel vaults, and the solid material that surrounds the vault is the union of the
solid material surrounding the two barrel vaults.
In this way it differs from a groin vault, which is also formed from two barrel
vaults but in the opposite way: in a groin vault, the space is the union of the
spaces of two barrel vaults, and the solid material is the intersection.
Catalan Vault
The Catalan vault consists of plain bricks that form a low arch.
It is also known as the Catalan turn, Timbrel vault, or Tile vaulting.
It is widely used in Catalonia from which it derives its name.
It is traditionally constructed by laying bricks lengthwise over a wood form or
"centring", making it a much gentler curve than has generally been produced by
other methods of construction.
Builders have to use a fast setting mortar to allow the brick to hold itself after being
tapped into place.
This technique was by Catalan people with layers of thinner, lighter bricks to create
a ceiling not only light but also very strong.
ELEMENTS
ABUTMENT A structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g.
at the ends of a bridge
IMPOST Top course of a pillar or a wall that supports the arch or vault.
INTRADOS Inner curve of an a arch or vault.
VOUSSIOR A wedge shaped or tapered stone used to construct an arch or a vault .
Rise
Clear span
The keystone at the very top and center of the arch is the most important element of the
arch, since it essentially locks the other stones into place. The individual blocks are held
in place by the pressure that they exert against one another, thus creating a very strong
support element within the barrel vault.
ELEMENTS OF VAULT
Portal Frame Structures
MATERIALS
timber
Clay
brick
durable and fire proof
Stone
Steel
ADVANTEGES &
DISADVANTAGES
PROS
Gives more volume at a lower costs than adding floor area .
It looks good over other forms of construction .
Dead load can be reduced by economizing foundation and supporting system.
The curved shapes often used for concrete are naturally strong structures.
Using RCC as a building material reduces both material cost and the construction
cost. As concrete is relatively inexpensive and easily cast into compound curves
CONS
Increased cooling or heating costs .
Good labour and supervision necessary.
Raise of roofs may be a disadvantage .
Shuttering problem .
Since concrete is porous material, concrete vaults or domes often have issues with
sealing.
If not treated, rain water can seep through the roof and leak into the interior of the
building.
REFERENCES
https://www.ribaj.com/culture/barrel-vaults
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Barrel_vault
https://study.com/academy/lesson/barrel-vault-definition-construction-
architecture.html

1735 - 1737 - 1745 - Barral Vault

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1735 - 1737 - 1745 - Barral Vault

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

1735 - 1737 - 1745 - Barral Vault

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Semester IX-A.B.C.M.

1735- Krittika Jayachandran

03 Design- General thumb rules

A tunnel vault, or barrel vault, is a tunnel-like, semi-cylindrical extension of an arch,

Sant’Andrea, Mantua, Alberti, begun 1462 BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS, ROME, 308-

Maisons Jaoul, Neuilly, Le Corbusier, 1956 (designed 1937)

Silver Hut, Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari, Japan, 2008-11

You might also like