Vault (architecture)

In architecture, a vault (French voûte, from Italian volta) is a self-supporting arched form, usually of stone or brick, serving to cover a space with a ceiling or roof.^[1]^[2] As in building an arch, a temporary support is needed while rings of voussoirs are constructed and the rings placed in position. Until the topmost voussoir, the keystone, is positioned, the vault is not self-supporting. Where timber is easily obtained, this temporary support is provided by centering consisting of a framed truss with a semicircular or segmental head, which supports the voussoirs until the ring of the whole arch is completed.^[3]

^ "Vault". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
^ Reich, Ronny; Katzenstein, Hannah (1992). "Glossary of Archaeological Terms". In Kempinski, Aharon; Reich, Ronny (eds.). The Architecture of Ancient Israel. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society. p. 322. ISBN 978-965-221-013-5. Vault: Arched roof made of stones or bricks in the shape of a half cylinder.
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[concise-1] "Vault". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2007-07-18.

[2] Reich, Ronny; Katzenstein, Hannah (1992). "Glossary of Archaeological Terms". In Kempinski, Aharon; Reich, Ronny (eds.). The Architecture of Ancient Israel. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society. p. 322. ISBN 978-965-221-013-5. Vault: Arched roof made of stones or bricks in the shape of a half cylinder.

[:0-3] Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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