Research Projects

Preserving cultural heritage structures from seismic damage is a global concern, as earthquakes threaten not only architectural legacies but also cultural identity and tourism. Assessing ancient monuments is challenging due to their varied shapes, making it hard to pinpoint a single behavioral parameter. Most previous studies have relied on numerical methods such as finite and discrete element modeling, focusing on diverse structures—Buddhist temples, domes, cathedrals, pagodas—each with unique characteristics and seismic contexts. These efforts highlight that earthquake damage to monuments is complex, and existing strengthening methods often prove inadequate after new seismic events. This raises an important question: Is it possible to develop a universal assessment method for similar types of monuments that consider both structural features and site-specific conditions? This research aims to focus on large mass monuments, which usually feature plan symmetry and vertical core continuity. The seismic capacity at each height level is influenced by the masonry's shear strength and structural plan density (SPD), which is the ratio of shear-resisting area to plan area. In some of the recent studies, it has been observed that lower SPD values trigger other crucial factors, like wall slenderness and connection quality. With high SPD, core structures generally remain elastic, and damage is limited to non-structural elements. Observations from recent Myanmar earthquakes reveal that significant structural damage can occur in extreme earthquakes, prompting several key research questions. 1. Can the SPD vs. intensity parameter of the impending earthquake become a key parameter in evaluating the vulnerability of a large mass monument system? 2. Can some global threshold be defined for intensity parameters or SPD that can decide the boundaries between serious structural damage and minor non-structural damage? 3. Can such a global quantitative understanding provide a broad basis for risk assessment of a population of monuments in a region and for risk mitigation (seismic retrofitting) strategies 4. Are there other parameters at play, specifically soil structure interaction, characteristics of ground motion, etc., that can affect the performance of these systems and can be explored via detailed numerical analysis? 5. Finally, can there be any modern strengthening measures that can be implemented for the deficient structures to prevent damage in future earthquakes? To address these challenges, this research will examine the seismic behavior of large mass monuments, focusing on stone or brick masonry structures from different cultural sites. The study includes analyzing earthquake effects, conducting shake table tests on scaled models, and using the results to perform FE modeling and parametric studies. Further, the goal is to develop modern strengthening methods that enhance seismic resilience and preserve core structural integrity.