La bóveda anular del palacio de Carlos V en Granada. Hipótesis constructiva

Abstract

The annular vault with basket-handle profile in the cortile of Carlos V palace is a self-stable structural system once the construction is finished. The forces to the exterior are absorbed by the weight of the perimetral masses, while the efforts to the interior are absorbed by a ring of voussoirs that forms a flat arch supported by columns, constituting a force system whose resultant is zero. Nevertheless, during the construction process the structure is unstable. Given the constructive complexity, it becomes even more intriguing to figure out which the execution process could be, both for the excellence of the stereometric construction and for the geometrical perfection reached. With this work we propose an hypothesis for the construction procedure that adjusts to the principle of the economy of means, rational order of the work, security of the process and excellence of results.