What is Ductility

Arches, vaults and domes are common features in the cultures of old civilizations. They were usually made of sun-dried bricks, fired bricks or stones with different types of mortar. The majority of these components are vulnerable to seismic effects. Furthermore, the thrust actions transmitted by arches, vaults and domes to walls and piers usually cause damage to the supporting walls or piers. The present chapter discusses the structural behaviour and performance of these elements in past earthquakes and reviews the numerical models used for the seismic assessment of these elements. Furthermore, different damage assessment approaches are reviewed and suggestions are made on further research.