• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Turkey is a transcontinental country located partly in Asia and partly in Europe, and hosted by diverse civilizations including Hittite, Urartu, Lydia, Phrygia, Pontius, Byzantine, Seljuk's and Ottomans. At various times, these built many historic monuments representing the most significant characteristics of their civilizations. Today, these monuments contribute enormously to the esthetic beauty of environment and important to many cities of Turkey in attracting tourism. The survival of these monuments depends on the investigation of structural behavior and implementation of needed repairing and/or strengthening applications. Hence, many countries have made deeper investigations and regulations to assess their monuments' structural behavior. This paper presents the dynamic behavior investigation of a monumental masonry mosque, the "İskenderpaşa Mosque" in Trabzon (Turkey), by performing an experimental examination with non-destructive testing. The dynamic behavior investigation was carried out by determining the dynamic characteristic called as natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. The experimental dynamic characteristics were extracted by Operational Modal Analysis (OMA). In addition, Finite Element (FE) model of masonry mosque was constructed in ANSYS software and the numerical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes were also obtained and compared to experimental ones. The paper aims at presenting the non-destructive testing procedure of a masonry mosque as well as the comparison of experimental and numerical dynamic characteristics obtained from the mosque.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.671-683
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• 2013

The May 19, 2011 an earthquake hit Simav (K$\ddot{u}$tahya) province in Turkey. Simav is a district of K$\ddot{u}$tahya located 255 km southwest from capital city of Turkey. According to Turkish General Directorate of Disaster Affairs (DAD), the magnitude of this moderate earthquake was 5.7. The major percent of the housing stock in the affected region was built in masonry. Many masonry dwellings, mosques and also minarets were heavily damaged due to this seismic activity. The Halil Aga Mosque and its minaret were also heavily damaged as a masonry structure around the earthquake region. In this paper, a site survey of masonry damages is presented and Response Spectrum Analysis of the Halil Aga Mosque is performed using the finite element method.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.335-350
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• 2014

Historical masonry mosques are the most important structures of Islamic societies. To estimate the static and dynamic behavior of these historical structures, an examination of their restoration studies is very important. In this study, Kara Mustafa Pasha Mosque, which was built as a domed mosque by Kara Mustafa Pasha between 1666-1667 in Amasya, Turkey, has been analyzed. This study investigates the structural behavior and architectural features of the mosque. In order to determine specific mechanical properties, compression and three-point bending tests were conducted on materials, which have similar age and show similar properties as the examined mosque. Additionally, a three-dimensional finite element model of the mosque was developed and the structural responses were investigated through static and dynamic analyses. The results of the analyses were focused on the stresses and displacements. The experimental test results indicate that the construction materials have greatly retained their mechanical properties over the centuries. The obtained maximum compression and tensile stresses from the analyses have been determined as smaller than the materials' strengths. However, the stresses calculated from dynamic analysis might cause structural problems in terms of tensile stresses.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.331-343
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• 2022

Masonry structures are the most common structural systems that have been used almost all over the world from the earliest ages of history to the present day. These structural systems are often unfavorably affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes. The main reason for this is that they are built without sufficient engineering knowledge. On January 24, 2020, a severe earthquake occurred near the Sivrice District of Elazığ in eastern Turkey. According to the Turkish Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.8 and the focal depth 8 km. This earthquake caused damage and destruction to the masonry structures used extensively in the region. The Hacı Yusuf Taş (new) mosque in the Malatya city center, located about 64 km from the epicenter of the earthquake, was among the buildings affected by the earthquake. The mosque has smooth-cut stone walls and domes made of brick units. The main dome of the structure was severely damaged during the earthquake. In this study, information about the earthquake is first provided, and the damage to the mosque is then interpreted via photographs. In addition, two separate finite element models were produced, where the current state of mosque and solution suggestions are presented, and response spectrum analyses were carried out. According to these analyses and field observations, a buttress system to the main walls of the structure should be constructed in the direction which has little lateral rigidity.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.501-512
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• 2019

In this study, seismic vulnerability assessment and seismic isolation retrofit of Bayburt Yakutiye Mosque is investigated. Bayburt Yakutiye Mosque was built in the early 19th century at about 30-meter distance to Coruh river in the center of Bayburt in Turkey. The walls of historical masonry structure were built with regional white and yellow stones and the domes of the mosque was built with masonry bricks. This study is completed in four basic phases. In first phase, experimental determination of the regional white stone used in the historical structure are investigated to determine mechanical properties as modulus of elasticity, poison ratio and compression strengths etc. The required information of the other materials such as masonry brick and the regional yellow stone are obtained from literature studies. In the second phase, three dimensional finite element model (FEM) of the historical masonry structure is prepared with 4738 shell elements and 24789 solid elements in SAP2000 software. In third phase, the vulnerability assessment of the historical mosque is researched under seismic loading such as Erzincan (13 March 1992), Kocaeli (17 August 1999) and Van (23 November 2011) earthquakes. In this phase, the locations where damage can occur are determined. In the final phase, rubber base isolators for seismic isolation retrofit is used in the macro model of historical masonry mosque to prevent the damage risk. The results of all analyses are comparatively evaluated in details and presented in tables and graphs. The results show that the application of rubber base isolators can prevent to occur the destructive effect of earthquakes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1331-1346
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• 2016

Historical masonry structures have an important value for cultures and it is essential for every society to strengthen them and confidently transfer to the future. For this reason, determination of the seismic earthquake response, which is the most affecting factor to cause the damage at these structures, gain more importance. In this paper, the seismic earthquake behaviour of Kaya Çelebi Mosque, which is located in Turkey and the restoration process has still continued after 2011 Van earthquake, is determined. Firstly the dynamic modal analysis and subsequently the seismic spectral analysis are performed using the finite element model of the mosque constructed with restoration drawings in SAP2000 program. Maximum displacements, tensile, compressive and shear stresses are obtained and presented with contours diagrams. Turkish Earthquake Code and its general technical specifications are considered to evaluate the structural responses. After the analyses, it is seen that the displacements and compressive/shear stresses within the code limits. However, tension stresses exceeded the maximum values at some local regions. For this mosque, this is in tolerance limits considering the whole structure. But, it can be said that the tension stresses is very important for this type of the structures, especially between the stone and mortar. So, some additional strengthening solutions considering the originality of historical structures may be applicable on maximum tensile regions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.749-760
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• 2016

The objective of the study is to investigate the effects of model calibration on seismic behaviour of a historical mosque which is one of the most significant Ottomon structures. Seismic analyses of calibrated and noncalibrated numeric models were carried out by using acceleration records of Kocaeli earthquake in 1999. In numerical analysis, existing crack zones on real structure was investigated in detail. As a result of analyses, maximum stresses and displacements of calibrated and noncalibrated numerical models were compared each other. Consequently, seismic behaviour and damage state of historical masonry Hafsa Sultan mosque was determined as more realistic in the event of a severe earthquake.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.3
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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.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.5
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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.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-72
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• 2020

This paper presents the results of a monodirectional shaking table test on a full-scale unreinforced masonry cross vault characterized by asymmetric boundary conditions. The specimen represents a vault of the mosque of Dey in Algiers (Algeria), reproducing in detail the mechanical characteristics of masonry, and the constructive details including the presence of some peculiar wooden logs placed within the vault's abutments. The vault was tested with and without the presence of two steel bars which connect two opposite sides of the vault. The dynamic behaviour of both the vault's configurations were studied by using an incremental dynamic analysis up to the collapse of the vault without the steel bars. The use of an innovative high-resolution 3D optical system allowed measure displacement data of the cross vault during the shake table tests. The experimental results were analysed in terms of evolution of damage mechanisms, and in-plane and out-of-plane deformations. Moreover, the dynamic properties of the structure were investigated by means of an experimental modal analysis.