Geometry, construction and stability of Amiens Cathedral

Abstract

Masonry is a theme in continuous evolution in this time. It was well known in the past by the ancient masters but, after introduction of new materials as reinforced concrete or steel structures, the studies are focusing on new theories, such as the elastic one, to describe the behaviour of this new types of technologies. The result is a gradual forgetting of the ancient ways of building adopted in the masonry building. In addition, from the beginning of the XX century was not usual to build with traditional techniques. In a parallel time, it’s begun the necessity to defend the ancient building by the evolving of the time but, forgetting the knowledge of historical building techniques, scholars started to apply the new theories of the XX century, birth to explain and project modern building, to the ancient one. This theme it’s still today not well solved.