Timber Strengthening Systems operated on the Vasari's Ceiling in Palazzo Vecchio

The structural analysis started for the trusses designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1563 for the Sala Nova in Palazzo Vecchio proves that they became suitable to support not only the roof but the false ceiling as well only when a significant alteration to the original design was made, i.e. the rigid connection of the kingpost to the chord. The deformation of the ceiling are therefore due to lack of structural consistency of the unit, excessive (for the ceiling) bay, creep. The numerical analysis of the new series of trusses added by Domenico Giraldi in 1854 to strengthen the vasarian system gives evidence of the perfect sizing and efficacy of these units; also the slight deformations occurred fit with the theoretic behaviour of the system.