Assessment Factors for Seismic Performance of Multi-block Stone Pagodas

Abstract

Recent earthquakes in Korea caused some damages to stone pagodas and thereby awakened the importance of earthquake preparedness. Korean stone pagodas which have been built with very creative style of material use and construction method are worthy of world heritage. Each stone pagoda consists of three parts: top; body; and base. However each tower is uniquely defined by its own features, which makes it more difficult to generalize the seismic assessment method for stone pagodas. This study has focused on qualitative preliminary evaluation of stone pagodas that enables us to compare the relative seismic performance across major aspects among many various Korean pagodas. Specifically an analytical model for multi-block stone pagodas is to be proposed upon the investigation of structural characteristics of stone pagoda and their dynamic behavior. A strategy for seismic evaluation of heritage stone pagodas is to be established and major evaluation factors appropriate for the qualitative evaluation are identified. The evaluation factors for overall seismic resisting behavior of stone pagodas are selected based on the dynamic motions of a rigid block and its limit state. Numerical simulation analysis using discrete element method is performed to analyze the sensitivity of each factor to earthquake and discuss some effects on seismic performance.