The Stone Skeleton

What is the time scale for the settlement and cracking of an old stone building? How do the elegant flying buttresses of a Gothic cathedral safely transfer thrust to the foundations? And what is the effect of wind on a stone spire or bell-ringing on a church tower? These and many other questions pertinent to the upkeep of old stone structures are answered in this clear and authoritative guide. With a firm scientific basis but without the use of complex mathematics the author provides a thorough and intuitive understanding of masonry structures. The basis of masonry analysis is introduced in the first two chapters after which individual structures -- including piers pinnacles towers vaults and domes -- are considered in more detail.<P>This lucid and informative text will be of particular interest to structural engineers practising architects and others involved in the renovation and care of old stone buildings.