Structural dynamic identification of a damaged and restored masonry vault using Ambient Vibrations

Professor Alemdar BAYRAKTAR, BSc/0000-0002-8973-9228WOS: 000339814500051In this study, the dynamic characteristics of the masonry vault of Kucuk Fatih Mosque have been identified by using Ambient Vibration Test. The vault was damaged and then restored. The mosque is located in the Bahcecik Quarter of Trabzon in Turkey, and it was registered as immovable cultural property. The mosque was restored by the local Regional Directorate of Foundations in 2012. The mosque has a vault which is supported by three masonry arches. At the beginning of the restoration, any damage was not observed on the vault. After the dismantling of the plaster, some cracks appeared on the masonry arches under the vault. Before the repairing of the vault, the dynamic behavior was determined by measuring the vibrational responses of the vault under environmental effects such as wind and traffic, the natural frequencies, mode shapes and the modal damping ratios were identified. The repairing project of the damaged vault was prepared and applied by skillful members. After the repairing of the vault, the vibration test was repeated and the dynamic characteristics of the vault were determined. It was observed that the first five natural frequency values of the vault are increased and the damping ratios were changed irregularly. The first two modal behaviors were obtained to be quite similar and the others were different. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved