Barrel vault
An arch is a curved structural form that carries loads around an opening, transferring them around the profile of the arch to abutments, jambs or piers on either side. Arch are structurally very stable in compression, as loads are relatively evenly balanced through their form.
A vault is a structural form composed of a series of arches, typically found in the construction of ceilings or roofs. The arrangement of the arches relative to one another determines the type of vault.
A barrel vault is a continuous arched shape that may approximate a semi-cylinder in form, resembling the roof of a tunnel, or may be pointed at its apex. It is typically formed by a series of arches or vaults placed side by side or by a continuous shell.
Barrel vaults are first thought to have been developed by the by the Sumerians, and were subsequently used by the Egyptians. They were used extensively in Ancient Rome for stone structures such as cisterns and aqueducts and as part of major buildings such as the Colosseum. Throughout the Middle Ages they were used across Europe as part of the construction of churches, and they continue to be a feature of modern architecture and engineering.
Barrel vaults must be able to withstand the outward pressure on the lower parts of the vault imposed by the structure above. If the barrel vault is underground, the pressure might be resisted by the ‘fill’ surrounding it. If it is above ground, the outward pressure can be resisted by thick supporting walls, although this becomes less practicable as the size of the vault increases. Additional strength can be provided in the form of supporting columns, stiffening diaphragm beams, side anchors or parallel walls that can distribute stress.
A groin vault (double barrel vault or cross vault) is formed by the intersection of two barrel vaults at right angles. The ‘groin’ is the edge between the intersecting vaults. This is a more efficient structure that only has to be restrained at its corners. A series of groin vaults can be built next to one another to create a similar effect to a simple barrel vault.
Stepped barrel vaults are formed by a series of barrel vaults at different levels.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Abutment.
- Anticlastic.
- Arcade.
- Arches.
- Architrave.
- Bridge construction.
- Bridges of the world.
- Cloister vault.
- Conoid shell.
- Corbel.
- Corbel vault.
- Crypt.
- Domestic roofs.
- Elements of classical columns.
- Flying buttress.
- Hyperbolic paraboloid.
- Lierne.
- Long span roof.
- Pendentive dome.
- Shell roof.
- Tunnelling.
- Tunnels of the world.
- Types of ceiling.
- Types of dome.
- Vault.
[edit] External references
- ‘Building Construction Handbook’ (6th ed.), CHUDLEY, R., GREENO, R., Butterworth-Heinemann (2007)
IHBC NewsBlog
Context 180 Released - Where Heritage and Nature Meet
The issue includes life, death, Forests, bats, landscapes and much more.
Church architecture awards 2024: now open
The National Churches Trust has announced three awards, all of which are run in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA).
The essential sector guide includes officers' updates and a foreword by EH Chair Gerard Lemos.
Historic England opens nominations for the National Blue Plaque Scheme
The scheme is open to nominations to celebrate people from all walks of life.
Striking photos show nature reclaiming brutalist concrete
‘Brutalist Plants’ explores nature’s links to the architectural style characterised by imposing form and exposed concrete.
Purcell’s guidance on RAAC for Listed Buildings in England & Wales
The guidance specifically focuses on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in listed buildings.
IHBC Membership Journal Context - Latest Issue on 'Hadrian's Wall' Published
The issue includes takes on the wall 'end-to-end' including 'the man who saved it'.
Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit developed by City of London and Purcell
The toolkit is designed to provide clear and actionable guidance for owners, occupiers and caretakers of historic and listed buildings.
70 countries sign Declaration de Chaillot at Buildings & Climate Global Forum
The declaration is a foundational document enabling progress towards a ‘rapid, fair, and effective transition of the buildings sector’
Bookings open for IHBC Annual School 12-15 June 2024
Theme: Place and Building Care - Finance, Policy and People in Conservation Practice.