Determination of earthquake resistance of historical masonry inn with finite element analysis

Abstract The protection of historic masonry structures against earthquakes is only possible by accurately assessing their non-linear behaviour, in particular their potential for severe damage and collapse. Experimental investigations on historic structures can be damaging, time consuming and costly. Therefore, in recent years, numerical modelling and analysis techniques have become common and reliable methods for determining the structural behaviour of historic structures. Turkey, which is located in a seismic zone, is home to many historical and cultural heritage sites. This study investigates the seismic performance of the historic Durak Han, located in the Durağan district of Sinop province due to its proximity to the North Anatolian Fault Line. The inn has been heavily damaged due to careless use and earthquakes and has been repaired many times. The seismic behaviour, force-displacement capacity and collapse mechanism of the stone vaulting have been investigated. A numerical simulation method had never been applied to the inn before. A comprehensive finite element model was constructed based on the architectural survey projects of the inn and this model was corrected using the experimental modal analysis results available in the literature. In order to determine the seismic behaviour and collapse mechanisms of the inn, nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed using the ground motion records of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The maximum principal stresses, maximum displacements and damage distributions of the inn were evaluated.