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C6 – Barrel Vault Country : Syria

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C6 – Barrel Vault Country : Syria Building techniques : C6 – Barrel vault Country : Syria PRÉSENTATION Geographical Influence Definition Barrel vault - Horizontal framework, semi-cylindrical shape resting on load-bearing walls - For the building, use or not of a formwork or formwork supports. - Used as passage way or as roofing (in this case, the extrados is protected by a rendering). Environment One finds the barrel vault in the majority of the Mediterranean countries studied. This structure is usually used in all types of environment: urban, rural, plain, mountain or seaside. Associated floors: Barrel vaults are used for basement, intermediary and ground floors for buildings and public structures. This technique is sometimes used for construction of different floors. In Syria, the barrel vault is found in urban and rural environments. It is common in all types of environments except mountainous areas. Associated floors: In Syria, this technique of construction is used in house cellars and basements, it is also found on ground floors in the shops, workshops and in old souks. Illustrations General view: Detail close-up: This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States 1/6 C6 Syria – Barrel vault CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLE Materials Illustrations Nature and availability (shape in which it is found) For the construction of barrel vaults, the most often used materials are limestone and terracotta brick in all the studied countries. Other kinds of stones are also used according to the local availability in materials ( schist and granite...). The materials added for the filling of the interstices of the extrados, or for the composition of mortars are: broken brick, lime, gypsum plaster, gravel or pieces of broken pots and coal debris. In Syria, the stone is the principal material to make barrel vaults. It is used in two shapes: either well cut and dressed to produce a smooth and orderly intrados, or rough stones which produce an irregular intrados called “Gamce” locally. The barrel vault is laid in mortar masonry; the filling material is made up primarily of earth. Modules, Dimensions, Dose ratio The barrel vault is masonry laid in mortar: the modules are assembled one against the other according to a sloped plane determined by a radiant wire that shows the angle of each section from the bottom of the vault to the key, and from the center of the arc. The stone or brick modules which make up the vault can be cut so as to form a specific key for the vault (2 tilted faces make up both a stone course and a bearing surface). They are often hardly outlined in flat stone: mortar catches up any irregularities showing on the surface. In Syria, the barrel vault is assembled with stones, sloped on a curve drawn by a fixed wire, Construction principle: perspectives, diagrams determining a ray up to the arch key. The dimensions of the stones of the cross vault are approximately 35X30X25 cm and the thickness of the vault is 35-40 cm. In addition, the semi cylinder arch of the vault can vary in shape and dimension. The vault can take on several shapes: half-circle, Persian arch or horseshoe, depending on the positioning of the centre of the arch or by drawing multiple arch centres. As for the dose ratio, the mortar used is made of 70% earth and 30% of straw, sometimes earth and lime. Type of laying Type of laying, use of a formwork, formwork supports The building of the vault is generally carried out using a wooden formwork. The latter is composed of at least two trusses (section of the vault), on which one fixes laths of wood (sole-piece), the outside shapes the intrados of the vault. The formwork can also produce a more approximate shape, which is then corrected with a bed of earth or sand... Anchored directly in the walls (cross beam, retractable) or supported by bolders (projecting stones left in place after laying ), this unit constituting " the formwork " is held by supports. The laying of stones and bricks is made from the springer to the key by balancing the loads on both sides of the vault axis. In the Mediterranean area, some techniques are freed from this formwork system (low wood supplies? tools are considered as overly cumbersome?, particular and local know-how?...). Building without formworks is possible with regular shaped modules (terracotta brick, cut or not), well prepared mortars (adherence of bricks, hardening speed...) and with a particular laying method. The latter seeks to limit the overhang of a key stacking, by creating intermediary support joints, by slanting the laying axis (springer/key/crown) towards the walls. In Syria today, barrel vault is laid with a wooden formwork. The main formwork is semi- cylindrical, assembled lengthwise between two load-bearing walls, supported by horizontal wooden boards and by vertical beams which carry the framework, taking on the shape of the vault; the vault is constituted on top of this unit. Trades Trades, number of people necessary The barrel vault is exclusively carried out by experts, mason, mason/stone cutter, or stone cutter helped by assistants (significant handling, mortar to prepare...), and sometimes assisted by a carpenter for the realization of the formwork. In Syria, Several people of art are needed to make a barrel vault. Initially, a mason and mason/stone-cutter are needed, along with several common masons to handle and prepare the mortar and filling. Sometimes, it would be necessary to call upon a carpenter to make the formwork. Construction principle: type of laying, general view and detail close-up This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States 2/6 C6 Syria – Barrel vault CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLE (CONTINUED) Tools Illustrations In addition to traditional mason tools, no particular tool is necessary for the building of the vault in throughout the studied countries. In Syria, the traditional tools of the mason used to make cross vaults are: 1. Hammers in several shapes. 2. Chisel. 3. Hammer with transverse edges: to shape and dress stones. 4. A trowel to spread the mortar. Performances Physical (span...). This construction technique leads to span widths that range from 1 to 7 meters, for a thickness that varies from 30 to 50 centimeters and can even reach 1 meter on the edges of the vault in Tunisia. In Syria, the span of barrel vaults varies considerably according to the type of construction and the shape of the arch, but the most important point is to keep certain proportions between the length, width and height. The span can be between 2 and 4 meters in houses and reach up to 6 meters in old souks. The thickness of the walls varies according to the shape of the arch; the thickness of the vault is approximately 40 cm. Thermal - Acoustic. For a stone construction, limestone in particular, the thermal and acoustic performances have been reported from rather good to excellent by all the countries concerned. Considering the significant mass of the vault, its thickness, the materials used in its construction, this piece of work has remarkable thermal and acoustic insulation qualities. In Syria, the thickness of this stone roofing allows good performance, the earth and mortar filling is thick and ensures both thermal and acoustic insulation. Tools Construction principle: performances. This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States 3/6 C6 Syria – Barrel vault ASPECT, PATHOLOGY Aspect Illustrations Finishing, associated roofing. The intrados of the vault is generally covered with a rendering. However, in the case of ashlar vaults or carefully laid bricks, the facing can be left bare. In the case of a vault for a passage way, the extrados of the vault generally does not get any particular processing; haunches are frequently filled with various materials (quarry rubble, building site residue), the unit gets a system to seal the ground. In the case of a roofing vault, the extrados of the vault has regular lines, and receives an elaborate waterproofing rendering. In Syria, after the completion of the barrel vault one fills the gaps between the stones shaping the vault, to a thin and smooth mortar is spread on the extrados. As for the intrados, the slope is shaped with two layers of lime rendering: - the first called locally "le cloue" is made up of 50% earth and ashes plus 50% limestone and left to rest for 3 days before use. - the second is a smooth rendering: 2/3 lime plus 1/3 hemp, stone powder and soap, left to rest for 5 days before use. Ageing pathology Linked to materials and climatic conditions : As for stone or brick masonry, pathologies related to materials originate in water (capillarity, infiltration, condensation...), which dissolves the mortars and weakens them. The control of water infiltration is more significant in the case of the vaults; Beyond the dissolution of the mortars it is necessary to note direct erosion, that can affect the rendering mortars. In Syria, barrel vaults are affected by the climate and moisture which deteriorate and then damage the external rendering of the vault. It is necessary to carry out repairs with rendering before the climate affects the stones, and causes any partial damage to the vault. Linked to the technique: The vaults produce lateral thrusts, that are weak in the case of the barrel vault.
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