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The Crypt Of St. Carlo Alle Quattro Fontane In Rome

1970; WIT Press; Volume: 16; Linguagem: Inglês

10.2495/str950441

1746-4498

G. Croci, P. Degni, G. Carluccio, S. Meluzzi, Alberto Viskovic,

Building materials and conservation

The Church of St. Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, designed by Francesco Borromini, is a masterpiece of the Italian Baroque. The appearance of deformations and cracks in the vault of the crypt called for the insertion of props. Historical research was carried out to ascertain the original shape and compare it with the deformations visible today. Investigations revealed that the vault was built in good quality pozzolanic concrete mixed with irregular tuff stone blocks. Structural analyses were carried out using finite element models, taking into account the non-linear behaviour of the vault's material. The results show how the peculiar shape of the vault reduces the safety margins with partializations of sections; cracks have expanded slowly over the years, probably also in relation with the high sensitivity to horizontal displacement produced by little soil settlements. Interventions were designed taking into account also the high artistic and historical value of the building, respecting Borromini's original concept. It as therefore decided to use a system of prestressed tie bars, placed along the radius through the vault, anchored at the edges and connected, in the central area, by a stainless steel elliptical ring placed at the intrados of the vault itself.