Masonry domes. A numerical model of analysis under no tension hypotheses

The paper deals with the analysis of masonry domes provided with thickness. The structure of the dome is modelled as a discrete system of rigid shell elements linked. In accordance with the assumption that only compressive forces can be transmitted from one element to another, no tensile strength in the joints is considered. In the numerical procedure, based on the use of Moore-Penrose generalized inverse, the solution relative to the standard material (linear elastic and bilateral behaviour) is assumed as starting point and is subsequently corrected according to the actual material skills which characterize