STABILITY MECHANISM OF MASONRY SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCHES

Abstract

Masonry arches are ancient structures, applied from tunnel works to complex constructions such as churches, temples, and castles, bearing the aesthetic and unique style of each civilization across various periods. A masonry arch consists of a series of blocks of a specific size stacked atop one another to create an upward curve that can maintain its shape and stability through the interaction of forces among the blocks within the structure. This research elucidates the principles and stability mechanisms of masonry arches in the case of support displacements. Focus on investigating the influence of structural thickness on the stability of masonry semi-circular arches. Simultaneously, it assesses the influence of the surrounding soil on the stability of the structural system. From there, determine the minimum structural thickness to ensure stability under different working conditions of masonry semi-circular arches.