hello everyone,
I am currently engrossed in a research project centered around the stereotomy of historical masonry vaults, particularly focusing on the challenges posed by doubly curved surfaces, such as the sail vault.
In my attached files
, you will find an illustration of how historical bed joints were determined. As you can observe, this method involves the intersection of multiple planes on the surface, resulting in a distinctive pattern. However, as I have delved deeper into this approach, I’ve encountered a noticeable issue – the further away from the division point, the more the distance becomes deformed. In some instances, this distortion reaches up to a 50% margin of error.
(source: Geometry and Actual Construction in Brick Vaults by Slices: The Case of Carranque in Spain)
My ultimate goal is to establish equidistant curves on the sail vault, ensuring that the spacing of bed joints starts from the opening and gradually deforms towards the center.
I have attempted various methods to achieve this, but I am currently at an impasse. My struggle lies in moving a curve along the doubly curved surface while maintaining equidistance. I would greatly appreciate any insights, suggestions, or experiences you might have in tackling similar challenges.