Vault Structure Type and
Annular Vault
Construction
Definitions
A vault, in architecture, is an arch-shaped
structure, usually of masonry, used as the
ceiling of a room or other enclosed space,
as the roof of a building, or as the support
for a ceiling or roof. Masonry vaults are
usually composed of wedge-shaped pieces
called voussoirs, which are held in place,
like the stones of an arch, by the pressure
of the neighboring pieces. Because of the
combined pressure of its components, any
arch exerts an outward pressure at its base,
and the base, therefore, must be so
constructed as to withstand the outward as
well as the downward thrust of the arch.
This construction can be accomplished by
using strong, heavy walls to support the
arch or by supporting the walls with
exterior structures, or buttresses. A
temporary supporting structure must be
erected within the vaulted area during
construction, because a masonry vault
does not become self-supporting until the
central voussoirs or keystones are put in
place.
There are numbers of different type of
vault are used architecturally.
1. Barrel Vault
Is the simplest vault of all and also
known as tunnel, vault or the roof of which
is shaped like half a cylinder and is
supported by straight walls.
Engineering Problem of barrel vault
- A barrel vault exerted a continuous
thrust along its sides. (fig.1)
- Usually the thrusts were dissipated
in the heavy mass of the hunching
and the supporting walls. (fig. 2)
2.
The annular vault is similar to the
barrel vault, except that the passage within
it is not straight but curved, giving the
entire structure the appearance of a portion
of a ring.
Figure 1 Figure 2
3. Groined Vault
A groined vault is formed by the
intersection of two vaults of the barrel
type, usually at right angles to each other.
The junctures at which the two vaults meet
are elliptical ridges, called groins. In the
simplest form of groined vault, the two
conjoined vaults are of the same size and
the floor of the vault is square; if the vaults
are of different sizes, however, the floor of
the vault is rectangular and the two areas
of the ceiling between the groins are
therefore of unequal shape and size.
4. Dome
Dome is a spherical vault resting on a
circular base wall. Pendentives are
portions of spherical vaults, or spherical
triangles, placed in the corners of square or
other polygonal structures to form a
circular base for a dome above. More
complicated vaults include ribbed vaults,
in which the inner vault surface is
subdivided by a number of independent
supporting arches, or ribs. A further
refinement is the fan vault, most common
in English late-Gothic structures, in which
the ribs are
5. Fan Vault
 A fan vault is a form of vault used in 3. Bricks e.g fired brick will be laid on
the Perpendicular Gothic style, in which the framework and joined with mortar.
the ribs are all of the same curve and
spaced equidistantly, in a manner
resembling a fan.

4. As the processes of the laying bricks

goes, additional support and
scaffolding will be required.

Figure 3: Fan vaulting

over the nave at Bath
Abbey, Bath, England.

Building Vaulted Structure

Unreinforced masonry vault

1. The site will be clear for foundation or

load bearing wall. Trenching can be
5. Another layer of bricks will be laid
done to lay the base.
with its header in upward direction
(not same as the previous layer) to
increase the vault compression
strength.

2. Geometrical framework carefully

constructed as designed

6. When all the brickwork done, the

frame will be removed after it gains its
stability.