Thrust membrane analysis of the domes of the baia thermal baths

Starting from the recent reformulation of the Thrust Network Analysis (TNA) developed by the authors, we further generalize the method in order to include triangular stress elements, used to model membrane thrusts within the analysis process. These elements substitute the classical network branches so that the correspondence between thrust stresses and the equilibrium condition of the membrane nodes is straightforward. The method is applied to the analysis of the dome of Mercury, the earliest preserved concrete Roman dome, still standing inside the archaeological complex of Baia (Naples).