ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to determine the inclination limits that may represent a risk to the structural safety of two corbel-vaulted monuments located atop a terrace in the archaeological site of Bonampak, Mexico. In order to evaluate the most vulnerable kinematic chain of blocks, a genetic algorithm optimization tool was developed in the Grasshopper programming module for Rhinoceros three-dimensional. The archaeological site of Bonampak, Mexico is known worldwide for its magnificent 1200 years old mural paintings. The invaluable Mayan artwork completely covers the interior walls of a massive masonry building formed by corbelled vaults. Corbelled vaults are the most distinctive element of the ancient Mayan architectural technology; and plenty of them have been preserved in abandonment, hidden by the jungle for centuries. The vulnerability assessment is based on the capacity spectrum method, which compares graphically the ultimate displacement capacity of the mechanism against the demand that the seismic ground motion can exert on it.
