Seismic failure assessment of a 19th-Century masonry minaret with and without iron clamp and dowel Retrofit: Experimental Testing, ambient vibration validation and numerical modeling
Murat Cavusli, Tuna Ulger
article (Uluslararası, Hakemli) | Yazar(lar): Murat Cavusli, Tuna Ulger | Yıl: 2025 | Dergi/Kurum: ENGINEERING FAILURE ANALYSIS | İndeks: WOS.SCI | DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2025.110006 | Anahtar Kelimeler: Ambient vibration test, Clamp connector, Dowel connector, Masonry minaret, Seismic retrofitting, Interface stiff
Historical stone minarets are vulnerable to seismic damage due to their slender shapes. Ensuring their structural safety is essential for preserving these culturally important landmarks. This study introduces a new seismic retrofitting method that uses mechanical connectors between separated outer stone blocks to improve structural integrity. A case study was performed on a 19th-century stone minaret in Zonguldak, T & uuml;rkiye. Material properties from the original quarry replicate historical bonding conditions, and mechanical tests on clamp-and dowel-reinforced stone pairs help determine interfacial stiffness parameters. The three-dimensional numerical model of the minaret was validated through ambient vibration tests. Nonlinear time-history analyses were carried out using ten real earthquake records from the 2023 T & uuml;rkiye seismic events, both with and without mechanical connectors. Results showed that adding clamp and dowel connectors decreased the structural period, displacement demand, and stress concentrations. This reduction lowered the risk of seismic damage to the minaret shaft. The connectors increased the structure's seismic resilience without compromising its historical authenticity. The proposed retrofitting method offers a minimally invasive, reversible, and effective solution for protecting slender masonry minarets from earthquakes.