Moini, RezaNeznamova, Anna D.2025-08-052025-08-052025-04-14https://theses-dissertations.princeton.edu/handle/88435/dsp018623j219cThis thesis aims to assess the structural behavior of the main domical vault system in the Church of St. Michael and Gabriel in Voskopojë, Albania. Built in the 18th century during the era of Enlightenment in the Balkans, this church displays the cultural significance of Voskopojë during its peak of intellectual and religious development. The Church of St. Michael is one of five remaining masonry churches out of the twenty-six originally constructed in the village. The impacts of seismic activity and the World Wars have made the preservation of its magnificent post-Byzantine fresco art and basilica-style architecture all the more critical. By analyzing the flow of forces in the vault system, this study gives a better understanding of the structural behavior of this valuable architectural site, supporting ongoing efforts in heritage conservation worldwide. An extensive visual assessment of the church was conducted on-site in Voskopojë, along with aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry to document the structure’s geometry. Information on historical crack patterns, the thickness of the dome, and the condition of the timber ties was obtained from an interview with the site engineer. In addition, the Masonry Quality Index (MQI) was used to estimate the mechanical properties of the masonry following a qualitative analysis of the building material. A model of the domical vault system was created using data from the site survey and interior laser scans of the church elevations and floor plan as a guide. A linear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the completed geometric model with appropriate material properties was performed for six cases, including different tie arrangements and vault geometries. This was done to determine the effect of the shape of the vault and the presence of the upper and lower rows of timber ties on the flow of forces in the structure. The models were analyzed under both gravity and lateral loading conditions to simulate the effect of the structure’s self-weight and seismic activity, respectively. The results of the FEA provide insight into the behavior of the timber ties and the unique vault geometry used in the construction of the church. It was found that the lower row of timber ties may not be structurally necessary to resist the gravity and lateral loading acting on the vault system, except as redundancy for the upper row of ties. The results also indicate that the ties are more important in dissipating stress due to the masonry’s self-weight rather than that imposed by lateral loading. Additionally, the original vault geometry appears to be more effective than the idealized hemispherical dome in transferring stress to the arches under gravity loading. However, the latter may be more efficient for resisting lateral loading due to its uniform shape. The results of this study can inform future work on the preservation of this and similar masonry churches, which will help protect the historical significance of towns such as Voskopojë. Future work could include Distinct Element Modeling (DEM) since this approach takes into account the interactions between the masonry blocks and mortar rather than treating the masonry as a homogeneous material. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model could be used to perform a safety analysis, following the establishment of more accurate timber tie connections in the geometry. Furthermore, the use of spring boundary conditions on the arch faces or the expansion of the model to include the full church geometry would be necessary for a realistic safety analysis. This is because the vaults surrounding the dome of interest provide significant additional support under both gravity and lateral loading. Finally, adjusting the boundary conditions to account for foundation settlement and adding concentrated point-loading on the vaults from the timber roof structure would provide a more holistic structural assessment based on historical crack patterns.en-USPrinceton University Senior Theses