• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제6권5호
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• pp.457-472
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• 2014

The paper presents the field investigations and seismic analyses of a historical masonry brick minaret damaged during October 23 (Erciş) and November 9 (Edremit), 2011 Van earthquakes in Turkey. Ulu Mosque Minaret located on Tebriz Kap1 Street in the city centre of Van, Turkey is selected for investigation. Two earthquakes hit the minaret within seventeen days, causing progressive damage. It was seen from the field investigations that the minaret was heavily damaged. To validate the field investigations, three dimensional finite element model of the minaret is constituted by ANSYS software using relievo drawings. Finite element model of the minaret is analyzed under the Van earthquake records to determine the seismic behavior. The displacements, maximum and minimum principal stresses and strains are obtained from the analyses and compared with field observations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.653-660
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to accurately estimate seismic damage and the collapse mechanism of the historical stone masonry minaret "Hafsa Sultan", which was built in 1522. Surveying measurements and material tests were conducted to obtain a 3D solid model and the mechanical properties of the components of the minaret. The initial Finite Element (FE) model is analyzed and numerical dynamic characteristics of the minaret are obtained. The Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) method is conducted to obtain the experimental dynamic characteristics of the minaret and the initial FE model is calibrated by using the experimental results. Then, linear time history (LTH) and nonlinear time history (NLTH) analyses are carried out on the calibrated FE model by using two different ground motions. Iron clamps which used as connection element between the stones of the minaret considerably increase the tensile strength of the masonry system. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model is selected in the nonlinear analyses in ABAQUS. The analyses conducted indicate that the results of the linear analyses are not as realistic as the nonlinear analysis results when compared with existing damage.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.523-538
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• 2016

Besides their spiritual significance, minarets are humanity's cultural heritage to the future generations due to their historical and architectural attraction. Currently, many historical masonry minarets are damaged and destroyed due to several reasons such as earthquakes and wind. Therefore, safety of these religiously significant buildings needs to be thoroughly investigated. The utmost care must be taken into account while investigating these structures. Our study investigated earthquake behavior of historical masonry minaret of Haci Mahmut Mosque. Destructive and non-destructive tests were carried out to determine earthquake safety of this structure. Brick-stone masonry material properties of structure were determined by accomplishing ultrasonic wave velocity, Schmidt Hammer, uniaxial compression (UAC) and indirect tension (Brazilian) tests. Determined material properties were used in the finite element analysis of the structure. To validate the numerical analysis, Operational Modal Analysis was applied to the structure and dynamic characteristics of the structure were determined. To this end, accelerometers were placed on the structure and vibrations due to environmental effects were followed. Finite element model of the minaret was updated using dynamic characteristics of the structure and the realistic numerical model of the structure was obtained. This numerical model was solved by using earthquake records of Turkey with time history analysis (THA) and the realistic earthquake behavior of the structure was introduced.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.539-558
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• 2016

Minarets are almost the inevitable part of Mosques in Islam and according to some, from a philosophical point of view, today they symbolize the spiritual elevation of man towards God. Due to slenderness, minarets are susceptible to earthquakes and wind loads. They are mostly built in a masonry style by using cut limestone blocks or occasionally by using bricks. In this study, one minaret (M1 Minaret) of one of the charmest mosques of Turkey, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 on the order of Sultan Ahmed by the architect Mehmet Agha is investigated under some registered earthquake loads. According to historical records, a great earthquake hit Istanbul and/or its close proximity approximately every 250 years. Ottomans tackled with the problem of building earthquake resistant, slender minarets by starting to use forged iron connectors with lead as a filler to fix them to the upper and lower and to adjacent stones instead of using traditional mortar only. Thus, the discrete stones are able to transfer tensile forces in some sense. This study investigates the contribution of lead to the energy absorption capacity of the minaret under extensive earthquakes occurred in the region. By using the software ANSYS/LS-DYNA in modelling and investigating the minaret nonlinearly, it is found out that under very big recorded earthquakes, the connectors of vertical cast iron-lead mechanism play very important role and help to keep the structure safe.