vault: Renaissance and Later Vaulting

The architects of the Renaissance and baroque periods abandoned Gothic methods and returned to Roman vault forms. New devices were added to these basic forms, including barrel vaults of semi-elliptical section, domes mounted on drums, and cross vaults with groins of elliptical section. In modern times reinforced concrete produces lightweight vaults devoid of thrust.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Renaissance and Later Vaulting
• Gothic Vaulting
• Roman and Romanesque Styles
• The Ancient World
• Engineering Considerations
• Nature of Vaults
• Bibliography

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