Masonry Spiral Stairs: A Comparison between Analytical and Numerical Approaches

The present paper applies the Linear Arch Static Analysis (LASA), which models masonry material as unilateral, i.e., No-Tension in sense of Heyman, and Safe Theorem Limit to study spiral stairs. A comparison is made with a refined FE analysis same problem, obtained by means ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). objective prove that LASA can be valid alternative other more complex numerical methods, such FE, especially when modeling parameters, boundary conditions, cannot exactly defined. case small staircase placed tower Nisida, island close Naples, Italy taken into consideration. results show provides fall within two limit cases terms stress overall thrust, providing at time meaningful insight equilibrium state structure.