A simplified FEM approach for assessing historic masonry vaults
As part of the restoration and seismic upgrading of the “Casermette” building—an annex of the Ducal Palace of Urbino and home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche—Englobe collaborated with the research team led by Prof. Gabriele Milani and Ing. Natalia Pingaro from Politecnico di Milano.
The study focused on the large-span brick barrel vault located in the basement level. A simplified nonlinear FEM model was developed using elastic-brittle truss elements and a heterogeneous discretization strategy, offering engineers a practical yet robust tool for structural analysis of heritage masonry.
The results were presented at COMPDYN 2025, one of the leading international conferences on structural dynamics and earthquake engineering.
From survey to validation
Englobe’s structural engineering team—Marco Magnani, Carlo Priori, and Guido Camarda—provided geometric surveys, construction data, and technical support based on their ongoing role in the structural design and site management for the restoration works.
This real-world data was integrated into the FEM model and validated against manual kinematic analysis and upper bound limit analysis software. The consistency among the methods confirmed the reliability of the proposed approach under both gravity and seismic loads.
Client and design team
Client: Italian Ministry of Culture – Ducal Palace of Urbino
Architectural Design and Site Supervision: Arch. Francesco Primari
MEP Design: Eng. Lorenzo Santi
Project Manager (RUP): Arch. Biagio De Martinis
This case demonstrates the value of bridging research and practice in heritage engineering. The synergy between Politecnico di Milano and Englobe showcases a replicable model of cooperation that combines academic rigor with engineering pragmatism.
