• 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.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.372-381
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• 2013

In the construction industry, a great deal of research has been focused on productivity improvement because a minor change in labor productivity can often make the difference between a profit and a loss. This study shows how productivity measurement methods can be applied in practice, step by step, to analyze and identify potential problems both in productivity and methods performance for masonry work. A work sampling technique was conducted to determine the nature and extent of an observable activity as an aid to measuring overall performance. Also, a method productivity delay model was used to identify non-productivity in individual cycle times. From the work sampling technique, it was found that the masonry crew had a Labor Utilization Factor of 47.1%, and from the videotape analysis, it was found that the material and dumpster location need to be adjusted to reduce the travelling distance. We have found that efforts to improve the productivity of masonry work should be focused almost exclusively on machine and labor delays, based on the result from the method productivity delay model.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-404
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• 2023

This paper presents the application of hybrid-simulation-based adapter elements for the non-linear two-scale analysis of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills under seismic-like demands. The approach provides communication and distribution of the computations carried out by two or more remote or locally distributed numerical models connected through the OpenFresco Framework. The modeling consists of a global analysis formed by macro-elements to represent frames and walls, and to reduce global degrees of freedom, portions of the structure that require advanced analysis are substituted by experimental elements and dimensional couplings acting as interfaces with their respective sub-assemblies. The local sub-assemblies are modeled by solid finite elements where the non-linear behavior of concrete matrix and masonry infill adopt a continuum damage representation and the reinforcement steel a discrete one, the conditions at interfaces between concrete and masonry are considered through a contact model. The methodology is illustrated through the analysis of a frame-wall system subjected to lateral loads comparing the results of using macro-elements, finite element model and experimental observations. Finally, to further assess and validate the methodology proposed, the paper presents the pushover analysis of two more complex structures applying both modeling scales to obtain their corresponding capacity curves.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.643-649
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• 2017

Masonry walls are amongst the oldest building systems. A large portion of the research on these structures focuses on the load-bearing walls. Numerical methods have been generally used in modelling load-bearing walls during recent years. In this context, macro and micro modelling techniques emerge as widely accepted techniques. Micro modelling is used to investigate the local behaviour of load-bearing walls in detail whereas macro modelling is used to investigate the general behaviour of masonry buildings. The main objective of this study is to investigate the elastic behaviour of the load- bearing walls in masonry buildings by using micro modelling technique. In order to do this the brick and mortar units of the masonry walls are modelled by the combination of plane truss elements and plane frame elements with no shear deformations. The model used in this study has fewer unknowns then the models encountered in the references. In this study the vertical frame elements have equivalent elasticity modulus and moment of inertia which are calculated by the developed software. Under in-plane static loads the elastic displacements of the masonry walls, which are encountered in literature, are calculated by the developed software, where brick units are modelled by plane frame elements, horizontal joints are modelled by vertical frame elements and vertical joints are modelled by horizontal plane truss elements. The calculated results are compatible with those given in the references.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.599-614
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• 2018

This study focuses on the earthquake performance of two URM buildings having typical architectural configurations common for residential use constructed per pre-modern code in Albania. Both buildings are unreinforced clay brick masonry structures constructed in 1960 and 1984, respectively. The first building is a three-storey unreinforced one with masonry walls. The second one is confined masonry rising on five floors. Mechanical characteristics of masonry walls were determined based on experimental tests conducted according to ASTM C67-09 regulations. A global numerical model of the buildings was built, and masonry material was simulated as nonlinear. Pushover analyses are carried out to obtain capacity curves. Displacement demands were calculated according to Eurocode 8 and FEMA440 guidelines. Causes of building failures in recent earthquakes were examined using the results of this study. The results of the study showed that the URM building displays higher displacement and shear force demands that can be directly related to damage or collapse. On the other hand, the confined one exhibits relatively higher seismic resistance by indicating moderate damage. Moreover, effects of demand estimation approaches on performance assessment of URM buildings were compared. Deficiencies and possible solutions to improve the capacity of such buildings were discussed.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.27-33
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to provide and evaluate the tensile properties of masonry element such as tensile strength, strain, modulus of elasticity and stress-strain relationship through the direct tension test with varies of mortar strength. From the experiment, the tension fracture was observed along the interfaces between the brick and the mortar. Tension properties of masonry element was significantly affected by compressive strength of mortar, $f_m$, indicating that higher tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of masonry element were obtained with increase of $f_m$. The strain of a masonry element was inversely proportional to $f_m$ due to the lower ductility of a higher mortar strength. A tensile stress-strain relationship of masonry element was generalized based on the numerical analysis and the regression analysis using test data. The proposed model shows fairly good agreement with the test measurements.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.153-169
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• 2008

The use of pre-tensioned shape memory alloy (SMA) wires to retrofit historic masonry structures is investigated. A small wall, serving as a prototype masonry specimen, is constructed to undergo a series of shaking-table tests. It is first studied in its original state, and its dynamic characteristics (in terms of modal frequencies) are extracted from the recorded signals. The results are then compared with those obtained when an increasing number of couples of pre-stressed SMA wires are introduced in the specimen to link the bricks together. A three-dimensional finite element model of the specimen is developed and calibrated according to the modal parameters identified from each experimental test (with and without SMA wires). The calibration process is conducted by enhancing the masonry mechanical behaviour. The results and the effectiveness of the approach are presented.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 2015

Modelling and analysis of a brick masonry building involves uncertainties like modelling assumptions and properties of local material. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a calibration to evaluate the dynamic properties of the structure. The response of the finite element model is improved by predicting the parameter by performing linear dynamic analysis on experimental data by comparing the acceleration. Further, a nonlinear dynamic analysis was also performed comparing the roof acceleration and damage pattern of the structure obtained analytically with the test findings. The roof accelerations obtained analytically were in good agreement with experimental roof accelerations. The damage patterns observed analytically after every shock were almost similar to that of experimental observations. Damage pattern with amplification in roof acceleration exhibit the potentiality of earthquake resistant measures in brick masonry models.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.551-565
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• 2018

Experimental testing is considered the most realistic approach to obtain a detailed representation of the nonlinear behaviour of masonry-infilled reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Among other applications, these tests can be used to calibrate the properties of numerical models such as simplified macro-models (e.g., strut-type models) representing the masonry infill behaviour. Since the significant cost of experimental tests limits their widespread use, alternative approaches need to be established to obtain adequate data to validate the referred simplified models. The proposed paper introduces a detailed finite element modelling strategy that can be used as an alternative to experimental tests to represent the behaviour of masonry-infilled RC frames under earthquake loading. Several examples of RC infilled frames with different infill configurations and properties subjected to cyclic loading are analysed using the proposed modelling approach. The comparison between numerical and experimental results shows that the numerical models capture the overall nonlinear behaviour of the physical specimens with adequate accuracy, predicting their monotonic stiffness, strength and several failure mechanisms.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.101-139
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• 2015

In this paper, it is aimed to investigate the restoration effect on the structural behavior of masonry arch bridges. Dandalaz masonry arch bridge located on the 4km east of Karacasu town of Aydin, Turkey is selected as a numerical example. The construction year of the bridge is not fully known, but the bridge is dated back to 15th century. Considering the current situation, it can be easily seen that the structural elements such as arch, side walls and timber blocks are heavily damaged and the bridge is unserviceable. Firstly finite element model of the bridge is constituted to reflect the current situation (before restoration) using building survey drawings. After, restoration project is explained and finite element model is reconstituted (after restoration). The structural responses of the bridge are obtained before and after restoration under dead load, live load and dynamic earthquake loads. For both conditions, maximum displacements, maximum-minimum principal stresses and maximum-minimum elastic strains are given with detail using contours diagrams and compared with each other to determine the restoration effect. From the study, it can be seen that the maximum internal forces are consisted under dynamic loads before and after restoration. Also, the restoration projects and studies have important and positive effects on the structural response of the bridge to transfer these structures to future.