Determination of In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Seismic Resistance of The Crown Gate of Harran Grand Mosque Using Limit Analysis Method

Harran hosts ruins of numerous structures of great significance in the history of Islamic art and architecture. Among which one of the most prominent is Harran Grand Mosque, considered one of the oldest mosques of Islamic civilization. In the literature, it is noted that the mosque was destroyed as a result of the Mongol invasion and earthquakes. It was also observed that various parts of the mosque sustained damage during the February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. In this study, in-plane and out-of-plane seismic resistance of the Mosque’s Crown Gate, which has survived to the present day despite all the mentioned adverse impacts, has been determined. For this purpose, both the Finite Element Method and the Limit Analysis Method were employed. During the application of the Limit Analysis Method, the Virtual Work Theorem was used. The analysis results indicated that the Gate can withstand a lateral seismic load of approximately 34% of its self-weight in the in-plane direction, whereas in the out-of-plane direction it can resist only about 19% of its weight. Consequently, it is understood that this unique surviving component of the Harran Grand Mosque has a moderate lateral seismic resistance in the in-plane direction, but its out-of-plane resistance is comparatively weak.