ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses many forms of masonry arches: semi-circular and segmental arches with one centre, and pointed and bucket arches with multiple centres. The structural behaviour of arches can be understood by explaining why the key-stone of an arch cannot fall down. The chapter focuses on two types of masonry arches construction process: construction of arches without centring, and construction of arches with centring. The construction process of simple masonry vaults has similarities to the construction process of masonry arches. They can be built with or without centring. For example, corbelled vaults can be built without centring. Other types of simple vaults can be built with the help of sliding centring. The chapter also discusses two types of domes: shallow domes, and high domes. Finally, it presents case studies of the masonry arches at Cordoba Mosque, Spain, the masonry vaults at Cologne Cathedral, Germany, and the masonry dome at Pantheon, Italy.
