Zur Gelenkbildung in historischen Tragsystemen aus Mauerwerk

Experiments numerical calculations and analytical examinations show, that external forced rotations will lead to few wide cracks in structural members of masonry. The smaller the internal pressure forces are, the earlier the rotations will localize. Therefore wide cracks occur more often in masonry vaults, which are mostly loaded by self weight only, than in pillars, which are normally much higher loaded. Thus a few wide cracks in masonry imply movements and not mechanical overloading.