Finite element analysis of the seismic response of ancient columns

• Published in: Earthquake engineering & structural dynamics 2019-10, Vol.48 (13), p.1432-1450
• Main Authors: Papadopoulos, Konstantinos, Vintzileou, Elizabeth, Psycharis, Ioannis N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ancient monuments; Collapse; Columns (structural); Computer programs; Computer simulation; Dynamic characteristics; earthquake behavior; Earthquake resistance; Earthquakes; Finite element method; finite element simulations; Iron; Mathematical models; multidrum columns; Numerical models; Parameters; Polyhydroxyvalerate; Preservation; Records; Seismic activity; Seismic analysis; Seismic hazard; Seismic response; Seismic surveys; seismic vulnerability assessment; Seismograms; Software; Vulnerability
• ISSN: 0098-8847; 1096-9845
• DOI: 10.1002/eqe.3207

Summary This paper presents a numerical study of the response to earthquake actions of eight ancient Greek multidrum columns, which were chosen as representative of a broad spectrum of the ancient columns preserved to date. The study was conducted using the FE software Abaqus, in three steps. At first, the software efficiency to predict the rocking response of dry‐stone structures was verified. Afterwards, various numerical models of one typical ancient multidrum column were seismically excited. Records of four real earthquakes differing in frequency content were used for the excitation of the models. Each column model was different from the others at least in one geometric or modeling parameter. Although the examined parameters affected the numerical results, their variation did not alter significantly the overall behavior of the column. In the last step of the study, numerical models of eight columns were seismically excited using four seismic records. In these analyses, among the simulation approaches tested in the second step, the simpler one was adopted. On the basis of the numerical results, conclusions were drawn regarding the seismic resistance of the columns and its correlation with the dynamic characteristics of the columns (size, slenderness, and frequency parameter) and with the basic intensity measures and frequency content indicator of the seismic motions (PHA, PHV, PHD, and Tg). Thus, criteria of seismic collapse for the multidrum columns are proposed, which can be used for the approximate assessment of the seismic vulnerability of free‐standing ancient columns, provided that the columns are in good preservation state.