Jerónimos Vaults: Thrust and Elegance

Ribbed vaults route forces with grace—geometry is doing the heavy lifting.

🧮 Thrust Lines

• Ribs converge on supports.
• Mass stabilizes lateral pushes.

$$ sigma = rac{F}{A}quad ext{(stress, simplified)} $$

How to Read a Vault

1. Find a boss—the star where ribs meet.
2. Trace ribs to springings—note curvature changes.
3. Scan for buttress cues—often internal here, folded into wall mass.

Structure is drawn in stone—lines carry loads.

[^center]: Vault centering (temporary frames) guided construction arcs.