For a long period of time Gothic vaults have been one of the most controversial elements of Gothic constructions. The rib vault system that supports the infill, and its indisputable efficacy has brought about numerous studies and hypotheses. Some, following Viollet-le Duc, consider the ribs as unique in effectiveness; others, sharing Pol Abraham's opinion, consider them to be totally useless. For several years our team has been working on systems of modelling and calculus of historic buildings, which are generally of stone in Spain. In this research we have paid much attention to the structures of great Gothic buildings of the northeast of the peninsula and especially to the modelling of their vaults. Due to the research carried out we have been able to produce applications and programmes that could be used in the general study of Gothic vaults. This paper gives analyses of diverse Gothic vaults with different modellings and most relevant conclusions of their structural behaviour.
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