FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSES FOR SEISMIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF HISTORICAL MASONRY BUILDINGS: THE CASE OF OMAR TOSON PALACE (CAIRO, EGYPT)

Abstract

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigation of a historical masonry building, Omar Toson

palace, subjected to static and earthquake loading in order to assess its structural behaviour and seismic

vulnerability with respect to its actual state of conservation. The static behaviour and the dynamic properties

of the Palace have been evaluated using the finite element modelling technique, taking into consideration all

the geometrical and material nonlinearities, in order to investigate the seismic behaviour of the structure by

means of nonlinear analysis. A macro-modelling approach has been used based on the concepts of

homogenisated material and smeared cracking and crushing constitutive law. The calculations took the

values for external loads, earthquake and displacement into consideration. A full 3D non-linear time-history

analysis of the entire structure has been done in order to correctly assess the seismic vulnerability of the

palace. The numerical analysis has given a valuable picture of possible damage evolution and provides a

basic understanding of the structural performance under seismic loads that can support the selection of

possible retrofitting measures.