Full-scale structural evaluations of İskenderpaşa minaret

Nowadays, innovative methods have been used for observing and structural evaluating of historical structures. In this paper, it is presented the full-scale structural assessments of a minaret after a Finite Element model calibrating according to vibration test results. Also, the structural behaviours under earthquake and wind loads were identified by considering the environmental effects on the selected masonry minaret of İskenderpaşa Mosque. First of all, modal analysis was executed on the three-dimensional Finite Element model created according to field survey in ANSYS Workbench. In-situ vibration tests were implemented at different intervals by using developed vibration measurement system. The experimental modal parameters were attained from collected signals. The experimental results were used as reference values in model calibration of this minaret to reflect the existing structural behaviour. Model calibration process was carried out on the initial model both by changing of material properties of masonry wall and by taking into account the interactions with mosque walls and ground. Full-scale structural evaluation was carried out under earthquake and wind loads on both the initial and the calibrated models in the weak direction of this minaret. The top displacements, drift ratios, principal stress values and their distributions were determined. It was shown that the analyses on the calibrated model produce more realistic structural behaviour.