Masonry Arches: Thrust Line and Strength
Abstract
The concept of ‘thrust line’ has its roots in historical contributions that laid the foundation for the development of modern tools useful for the limit analysis of masonry arches and vaults. This concept can be traced back to two different, but related, notions: ‘line of resistance’ and ‘line of pressure’. In this paper, both historical contributions and recent developments of the thrust line method will be discussed with a focus on those formulations which take into account the material’s properties, in particular compressive strength.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Masonry and Concrete Structural Analysis
Civil and Structural Engineering Research
Seismic Performance and Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Encyclopedia
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 57–57
- Publication date
- 6 March 2026
- Language
- EN