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Curves of Clay: Mexican Brick Vaults and Domes

In: Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future

Author

Listed:
  • Alfonso Ramírez Ponce

    (E 21, M XII Educación)

  • Rafael Ramírez Melendez

    (Pompeu Fabra University)

Abstract

This paper aims to describe, analyse, and formalise some of the fundamental properties of a popular construction technique for building brick vaults and domes without the use of scaffolding or centering. The technique is of collective invention in Mexico and dates back to the nineteenth century. “Leaning brick” vaults, made only of clay tiles and skillful craftsmen, possess both architectonic and a mathematical beauty. As a first step towards a mathematical analysis of the vaults we have formalised their surface as a function of two real variables. We have explored two cases: the surface of a vault constructed on a rectangular perimeter, and the surface of a vault constructed on four circular arches resulting in the section of a sphere. We have also indicated how to calculate the area of the surface in both cases.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfonso Ramírez Ponce & Rafael Ramírez Melendez, 2015. "Curves of Clay: Mexican Brick Vaults and Domes," Springer Books, in: Kim Williams & Michael J. Ostwald (ed.), Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 309-324, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-00137-1_21
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-00137-1_21
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