Investigation of the effectiveness of nature-inspired buttress forms in supporting masonry structures

A buttress is a crucial element for vaulted and domed masonry structures. In this study, after reviewing the buttress forms in historical masonry architecture, previous studies on masonry buttresses are summarized. Then, some ideas for potential studies on masonry buttresses are presented. Finally, the effectiveness of an idealized tree buttress-shaped buttress in supporting masonry structures against seismic forces is investigated. The results indicate that a concave parabolic buttress provides structures with a higher resistance than a buttress with an idealized shape of tree buttresses.