A new type of stone dome based on Abeille's bond

We deal with a new kind of stone spherical vaults, bonded adapting Joseph Abeille's 1699 patent for flat vaults. After the presentation of a parametric design procedure, we put forward a numerical model and propose a method to seek the optimal parameters. We conclude giving tools to process the information and produce fabrication outputs. Most of the issues related to the stereotomy of the quoted system are solved; the automatic design of such vaults is made accessible starting from the choice of a topology and a few geometric parameters. A finite element model of the structure is put forward, sufficiently rich to nourish with numerical results the seek of optimality. A graphic representation of such results is proposed to characterize synthetically each structure's performances and compare tentatives to select the optimum. Examples are given of optimal choices of the design parameters. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.