Personal tools

Structural Assessment of Guastavino Domes

Rafael Guastavino refined the technique of erecting thin terra-cotta tile, a thousand year old building system of ‘Catalan Vaulting.’ His company was involved with more than 1000 buildings in North America between the 1880s and the 1960s. Although Guastavino tile vaulting contributed to many prestigious buildings of that time, the structural behavior of this construction system has received little or almost no attention in the literature. It is the intention of this thesis to study this empirically designed system by using tools of modern engineering: experimental modal analysis, thin elastic shell theory and finite element analysis.

Bibliography

Allemang, R.J, Brown D. L., Kobayashi, A. S., (1993) “Handbook on Experimental Mechanics/ Chapter 16–Experimental Modal Analysis”, 2nd ed. Bethel, CT, SEM

Anon., (1889), “A new Fireproof Floor Construction”, Engineering News November 8, pg. 454-455

ANSYS Inc. (2003), ANSYS v. 8.0 Elements Reference

ANSYS Inc. (2003), ANSYS v. 8.0 Structural Guide

Armstrong, D. M., Sibbald, A., Fairfield, C. A., Forde, M. C., (1995), “Modal Analysis for Masonry Arch Bridge Spandrel Wall Separation Identification”, NDT&E International, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 377-386

Avitabile, P., (2001), “Experimental Modal Analysis”, Sound and Vibration, January, 2001

Bathe, K. J., (1982), “Finite Element Procedures in Engineering Analysis”, City Prentice-Hall, Inc. NJ

Bonato, P., Ceravolo, R., Stefano, A. D., Molinari, F., (2000), “Cross-Time Frequency Techniques for the Identification of Masonry Buildings”, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 91-109

Chaigne, A., Fontaine, M., Thomas, O., Ferre, M., Touze, C., (2002), “Vibrations of Shallow Spherical Shells and Gongs: A comparative Study”, Forum Acusticum, Sevilla (Spain), 2002

City and County Building, (1915), Bid, Advertisement, Information for Bidders, Contract and Specifications, The City of Pittsburgh, The County of Allegheny, Pittsburgh, PA

Colla, C., Lausch R., (2002), “Influence of Source Frequency on Impact-Echo Data Quality for Testing Concrete Structures”, NDT&E International, Vol. 36 pp.203-213

Collins, G. R., (1968), “The Transfer of Thin Masonry Vaulting from Spain to America”, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, VXII, (October 1968), pp. 176-208

Cook, R. D., Malkus, D. S., Plesha, M. E., Witt, R. J., (1974), “Concepts and  Applications of Finite Element Analysis,” 4th ed. (2002), Wiley, NY

Ewins, D. J., (2000) “Modal Testing Theory, Practice and Application”, RSP, England

Erdogmus, E., (2004), “Structural Appraisal of the Florentine Gothic Construction System,” PhD Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University

Etheredge, Carl E., (1971), “Guastavino Construction: the Predecessor of Thin Shell Concrete”, M.S. Thesis, University of Houston

Garcia, J., (2001), “The Need for Computational Model Validation,” Experimental Techniques, March/April 2001, pp.31-33

Guastavino, R., (1892), “Essay on the Theory and History of Cohesive Construction”, Boston; Ticknor, 2nd ed., 1893

Guastavino, R., (1893), “The Cohesive Construction. Its Past, Its Present, Its Future,” The American Architect and Building News, Boston; Ticknor, 2nd ed., 1893

Guastavino, R., (1904), “Prologomenos on the Function of Masonry in Modern Architectural Structures”, New York

Hanagan, L. M., Raebel, C. H., and Trethewey, M. W., (2003), “Dynamic Measurements of In-Place Steel Floors to Assess Vibration Performance”, the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Vol. 17, No. 3

Hatch, M. R., (2000), “Vibration Simulation Using Matlab and Ansys”, Chapman & Hall/CRC, NY

Hwang, C., (1966), “Some Experiments on Vibration of Hemispherical Shell”, Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 66-WA, No. APM-7

Kang, J. H., Leissa, A. W., (2004), “Three-Dimensional Vibration Analysis of Solid and Hollow Hemispheres Having Varying Thicknesses With and Without Axial Conical Holes”, Journal of Vibration and Control, Vol. 10, PP. 199–214

Kidney W. C., (2002), “Henry Hornbostel”, Robert Rinehart, MD

Kistler Instrument Corp. ., (2005), “Technical Literature”

Kraus, H., (1967), “Thin Elastic Shells”, Wiley, NY

Kunieda, H., (1982), “Flexural Axisymmetric free vibrations of a spherical dome; exact results and approximate solutions”, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.92, No.1 PP. 1-10

Lane, D., (2001), “Putting Guastavino in context: a scientific and historic analysis of his materials, method, and technology”, Masters Thesis, Columbia University

Liew, K. M., Lim, C. W., (1995), “Vibratory Behavior of Doubly Curved Shallow Shells of Curvilinear Planform”, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 121, No. 12

Maia, N., Silva, J., (1997), “Theoretical and Experimental Modal Analysis”, RSP, NY

Mal’tsev, V. A., Konon, Y. A., Adishchev, V. V., (1984), “Experimental Study and Analysis of the Vibrations of an Impulsivley Loaded Thin-Walled Spherical Shell”, Plenum Publishing Corporation / Fizika oreniye I Vzryva, Vol. 20, No. 2, PP. 97-102

McNary W. S., Abrams D.P., (1985), “Mechanics of Masonry in Compression”, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 111, No. 4, pp. 857-870

Milkovich, Ann K., “Guastavino Tile Consruction”, Building Renovation, July/August 1993

Musté, B., (1997), Buenaventura, La Bóveda Catalana, Entasis, Zaragoza, Insitución “Fernando el Católico”, Disputación de Zaragoza

Neumann, D., (1999), “The Guastavino System in Context: History and Dissemination of a Revolutionary Vaulting Method”, APT Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 4. pp. 7-13

Oberkampf, W.L., (2001), “What are Validation Experiments?”, Experimental Techniques, May/June 2001, pp. 35-40

Ogihara, Y., (1985), “Stiffness Evaluation Method and Vibration Tests of a Spherical Shell Structures”, Pressure Vessels and Piping Division, ASME, Vol. 98, No. 3

Parks, J. & Neumann, A.G., (1996), “The Old World Builds the New: The Guastavino Company and the Technology of the Catalan Vault”, 1885-1962, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library and the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University: New York, pp. 12-51

Pesciullesi, C., Rapallini, M., Tralli, A., Cianchi, A., (1997), “Optimal Spherical Masonry Domes of Uniform Strength”, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol 123, No. 2

Raebel, C. H., (2000), “Development of an Experimental Protocol for Floor Vibration Assessment”, Masters Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University

Reynolds, R., Pavic, A., Waldron P., (1997), “Modal Testing of a 150-Tonne Concrete Slab Incorporating a False Floor System”, IMAC-XVI

Reynolds, P., and Pavic, A., (2000), “Impulse hammer versus shaker excitation for modal testing of building floors,” Experimental Techniques, v 24, n 3, 39-44

Ross, C. T. F., (1996), “Vibration and Elastic Instability of Thin-Walled Domes under Uniform External Pressure”, Thin-Walled Structures Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 159-177

Rossell, J., (1995), “Rafael Guastavino I Moreno Inventiveness in 19 Century Architecture”, Guastavino C., Col-legi ‘Arquitectes de Catalunya, Barcelona

Saliklis, E., Kurtz, S. and Furnbach, S. “Finite Element Modeling of Guastavino Tiled Arches”, (2003) Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture, Halkidiki, Greece, pp. 257-266.

Sadri, A., (2003), “Application of Impact-Echo Technique in Diagnoses and Repair of Stone Masonry Structures”, NDT&E International Vol. 36 pp. 195-202

Sansalone, M. J., Streett W. B., (1997), “Impact-Echo: Nondestructive Evaluation of Concrete and Masonry, Bullbrier Press, Ithaca, NY

Sansalone, M., (1997a), “Impact-Echo: The Complete Story”, ACI Structural Journal, Vol. 94, No. 6, pp. 777-786

Schwarz, B. J., Richardson, M. K. (1999), “Experimental Modal Analysis”, CSI Reliability Week, Orlando, FL

Schubert F., Wiggenhauser H., Lausch R., (2004) “On the accuracy of thickness measurements in impact-echo testing of finite concrete specimens––numerical and experimental results,” Ultrasonics, Vol.  42 pp. 897–901

Soedel, W., (2004), “Vibrations of Shells and Plates”, Marcel Dekker, NY

Sortis, A. D., Antonacci, E., Vestroni, F., (2004), “Dynamic Identification of a Masonry Building Using Forced Vibration Tests”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 27 pp. 155-165

Souza, V.C.M.D., Croll, J.G.S., (1983), “Vibration tests on spherical shell caps”, Journal of Strain Analysis, Vol. 18, No.1

Tarrago, S., (2002), “Guastavino Co. (1885-1962) Catalogue of Works in Catalonia and America”, ACTAR, Barcelona

United States Patent Office Patent #947,177, Masonry Structure, January 18, 1910

Wright, P.B., (1901), “The works of Rafael Guastavino. Part I, As Architect,” The Brickbuilder, X, April, pp. 79-81

Wright, P.B., (1901), “The works of Rafael Guastavino. Part II, What is Cohesive Construction? ,” The Brickbuilder, X, May, pp. 100-102

Wright, P.B., (1901), “The works of Rafael Guastavino. Part III, The Practice of Architecture and Cohesive Construction in America,” The Brickbuilder, X, September, pp. 184-188

Wright, P.B., (1901), “The works of Rafael Guastavino. Part III, The Practice of Architecture and Cohesive Construction in America,” The Brickbuilder, X, October, pp. 211-214

Files
Structural Assessment of Guastavino Domes   15.2 MB 
M.S. Thesis defense presentation illustrates the modal analysis tests, finite element model development and manual updating of two Guastavino tile domes. A brief overview of characteristics and history of Guastavino tile vaulting technique is also included in the presentation.
Structural Assessment of Guastavino Domes   6.3 MB 
Rafael Guastavino refined the technique of erecting thin terra-cotta tile, a thousand year old building system of ‘Catalan Vaulting.’ His company was involved with more than 1000 buildings in North America between the 1880s and the 1960s. Although Guastavino tile vaulting contributed to many prestigious buildings of that time, the structural behavior of this construction system has received little or almost no attention in the literature. It is the intention of this thesis to study this empirically designed system by using tools of modern engineering: experimental modal analysis, thin elastic shell theory and finite element analysis.
Document Actions