The Art of Structural Engineering: Vaults (Princeton University)

In this engineering course you will learn how to analyze vaults (long-span roofs) from three perspectives:

1. Efficiency = calculations of forces/stresses
2. Economy = evaluation of societal context and cost
3. Elegance = form/appearance based on engineering principles, not decoration

We explore iconic vaults like the Pantheon, but our main focus is on contemporary vaults built after the Industrial Revolution. The vaults we examine are made of different materials, such as tile, reinforced concrete, steel and glass, and were created by masterful engineers/builders like Rafael Guastavino, Anton Tedesko, Pier Luigi Nervi, Eduardo Torroja, Félix Candela, and Heinz Isler.

This course illustrates:

• how engineering is a creative discipline and can become art
• the influence of the economic and social context on vault design
• the interplay between forces and form

The course has been created for a general audience—no advanced math or engineering prerequisites are needed.  This is the second of three courses on the Art of Structural Engineering, each of which is independent of the other. The course on bridges was launched in 2016, and another course will be developed on buildings/towers.