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The present study concerns the structural analysis of the masonry vaulted stairs of the Santa Maria delle Vigne bell tower in Genoa (Italy). The vaulted staircase systems are fully analysed in terms of technological and constructive details. The 3D geometric models are defined from laser scanner data. The structural analyses were carried out by using both the equilibrium limit analysis and a static incremental FEM analysis. Despite the efficacy of classic equilibrium methods in analysing arched and vaulted structures is largely proved in literature, this study demonstrates that vaulted staircase systems often collapse because of compressive failure of masonry before losing stability.

This paper investigates the structural behaviour of masonry vaulted staircases and the efficacy of different modelling strategies for the assessment of their structural safety. In particular, the present study focuses on the structural analysis of the masonry vaulted stairs of the medieval Santa Maria delle Vigne bell tower in Genoa (Italy), dating back from XVI to XVII Century. Both a limit analysis tool and a static incremental analysis using a finite element model are adopted. The limit analysis problem is formulated for a rigid block model using an iterative solution procedure to take into account crushing failure. Results indicate that crushing failure is crucial in capturing the response of this structural typology.