Static analysis of barrel vaults built with hollow clay fictile tubules with different geometry

The numerous archaeological finds spread into Italian territory, have highlighted the importance of the “tubulo fittile” element in historical ancient buildings. They were use by the builders to lighten the weight of the vaults and to decrease the thrust on the supports, guaranteeing low weight in relation to the volume occupied. The element, often used by Roman builders, reached its heyday in the Byzantine period, where the use of fictile tubules has ensured the roofing with large dimension. In this work was performed a sampling of the fictile tubule elements present in Calabria and south Italy. They were classified for size, weight, shape and type of disposition in the structures. Moreover, it also shown in the paper, a geological clay map, used to manufacture the hollow clay fictile tubules. Static analysis on barrel vaults, with different size, built with hollow clay fictile tubules, objects of this work, it was conducted considering the effect of the own weight and the filling, using approach of the membranes theory. This analys