Parametric study of the distribution of the tensile stresses in pavilion structures constituted by four sectors of barrel shells

A semi-analytical approach is followed in order to obtain an approximate solution for an analytical model describing the static behaviour of pavilion shells. With the aim to parametrically investigate the distribution of the linear elastic tensile stresses, a linear elastic isotropic behaviour of the material is considered. Inside the pavilion shell, a family of arches and a family of straight beams can be recognized. This assumption justifies the separation of the variables which is at the basis of the proposed semi-analytical approach. The sensitivity of the behaviour of the shells to the values of the mechanical and geometrical parameters characterizing the system is investigated. Comparisons with results obtained by finite element models are performed to confirm both the validity of the semi-analytical approach and the provided results. Since only a linear elastic isotropic material has been taken into account, the results do not claim to describe the behaviour of masonry pavilion vaults.