NON-LINEAR STATIC ANALYSIS AND SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF MODERN ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN EGYPT

Abstract

The objective of this paper is the investigation of the behavior of historic masonry structures subjected to static and seismic forces and the formulation of numerical models for use in structural analysis. The case study presented her regards the seismic analysis of El-Sakakini palace (1892 AC) in Cairo, Egypt (damaged by the earthquakes occurred in 1992 and 1995). Firstly, we collected all data regarding the site, the geometry of manufact, the characteristics of materials of construction, the structure and the soil medium, etc. The paper presents the next part which includes the static and seismic performance of these structures is investigated according to statistical data from recent earthquakes and finally an analytical model of describing their performance is developed. An analytical, plasticity-based Model is presented for the inelastic analysis of traditional masonry structure. The proposed Model is applied to the analysis of El-Sakakini palace in Cairo. A non-linear model is developed, aiming at capturing the key in elastic mechanisms. The analytical model is implemented in the finite element code Robout Millineum and validated against experimental results. The results obtained suggest that for such structures non-linear static analysis provides a reasonable prediction of damage at the base of the palace, but is not however suitable for predicting the overall damage along the palace‘s entire height. The conclusive aim of the project is then to develop guidelines for the evaluation of the static and seismic vulnerability of historic masonry palaces. Ultimately, the analysis presenting the optimal structural interventions to remedy the existing damage and to prevent the formation of the same mechanisms under the action of future earthquake.