Multidisciplinary Study of Chiaravalle Abbey Polygonal Dome and Lantern Tower

A multidisciplinary study of the structural behaviour of the fourteenth century octagonal polygonal dome in the Chiaravalle Abbey in Milan is presented here. Its structural behaviour is of interest because the dome is topped by a 28-m-high tower and has additional masonry structures forming the polygonal tiburio outside the dome, according to the Lombard Romanesque style of the church. The analysis is carried out using a static approach with a focus on the additional load distribution due to the lantern tower and the collaboration of the masonry shell and radial walls. This structure is analyzed not only from a structural point of view but also considering the history and the architecture of the building. Furthermore, the analysis of the geometry and of the crack patterns show the potential for an integrated approach to the study of the historical masonry building.