Author(s)

J.M. Rodriguez Ortiz & C.L. Martin

Abstract

The observed bending deformations of marble slabs, as well as the known Poisson effect in compressed cylindrical specimens has led to a research into the possibilities of the entasis curve in Greek temples to be an effect of delayed transversal deformations of viscoelastic type. However, the results of axysimetric finite element computations support the traditional theory of a built-in entasis (a delicate work indeed !) as the computed shape does not match the actual one and, on the other hand, the vertical compression of the column should be of decimeters in order to allow 2-3 cm of "bulging". The comparison does not improve by using more elaborated models as a linear decreasing modulus from the axis to the outer surface or, inversely, dilatant properties clue t

Keywords