PSI - Issue 78

Mattia Zizi et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 1721–1728

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Fig. 6. Overview of the full-scale masonry cross vault prototype and the experimental setup

To simulate realistic boundary conditions and ensure stability, the foundations were anchored to the strong floor utilizing steel plates and threaded rods. This configuration was designed to replicate the support mechanisms of masonry structures in real-world scenarios. To facilitate smooth horizontal displacement during the loading phase, rollers were used below the two movable pillars. These rollers were positioned upon a steel plate, which was in turn supported by three steel boxes. In summary, the developed experimental system enabled the study of the structural response of the vault to earthquake-like forces. The data collected through these tests is crucial for validating numerical simulation models and for advancing the understanding of historical masonry building performance under seismic stress. 5. Conclusions This study presented a set of preparatory activities aimed at the future execution of an experimental test to be carried out at the Structural Laboratory of the LEDA Research Centre. The experiment will involve the construction of a full-scale specimen of a masonry cross vault, representative of the roofing systems commonly found in Italian Medieval churches. For this purpose, the cross vault of the Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Casertavecchia (Italy) was selected as a reference case study. The paper outlined the motivations behind the research and presented preliminary numerical analyses that support the accurate and reliable reproduction of the vault geometry to be tested. The results highlighted the crucial role of vault thickness as a key parameter for the success of the experimental campaign. Additionally, the numerical simulations provided insights into the expected damage patterns and the order of magnitude of the structural capacity. These findings informed the design of more robust support elements to better replicate the actual behaviour of real vaults and will assist in defining the instrumentation and measurement systems to be used during the test. Finally, the experimental setup was briefly illustrated, including the simulation of realistic boundary conditions, which will play a fundamental role in ensuring the significance and applicability of the results.