The brick masonry domical vault (kolonbu) is a part of Persian traditional structures that has been constructed in different eras. Various types of arches can be used in a kolonbu vault. In this thesis, brick masonry domical vaults with semi-circular, (drop, ordinary and raised) pointed and (drop, ordinary and raised) four-centred arches under pier settlement have been studied. Three spans of 2.5 m, 4.5 m and 6.5 m, three pier heights of 3.5 m, 5 m and 6.5 m, and three pier widths of 1.5 m, 2.5 m and 3.5 m have been considered for the vaults. Non-linear behaviour has been assumed for the brick masonry material. Three-dimensional finite element analysis has been performed by the ANSYS code. The Willam-Warnke failure criterion has been used for brick masonry.
For the pier settlement, the settlement of two adjacent piers has had the least effect on the failure of the vault and that of two opposite piers has had the most effect. The minimum and maximum values of the settlement have been 0.75 mm and 21.7 mm, respectively. Cracks have been generated near the junction of the vault and the pier and at the extrados.