ABSTRACT
Thanks to their adaptability to the changes of the geometric configuration, masonry arches or vaults are able to distribute the strain along the mortar joints, avoiding the formation of significant cracks. In this way the
collapse mechanism does not depends by the materials’ limit strength, but it is due to the incapability of the structure to fit the horizontal and vertical displacements of the abutments. As a consequence it is clear that similar displacements should be considered when strengthening masonry arches introducing only systems, which are able to realize an effective “reinforcement” without changing the constructive features of the structure.
