Seismic Analysis of a Three-Tiered Pagoda Temple Affected by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article discusses seismic behavior of a multi-tier brick masonry pagoda strengthened with modern materials. A three-tier pagoda, the Radha Krishna temple is studied. This Hindu temple was located in the historic centre of Patan, Nepal. The structure was composed of masonry walls of solid bricks and mud mortar with the timber frame structure placed in the walls. A large-scale intervention was carried out in 1992. Concrete ring beams were installed at the top of the ground tier and first-tier. Cross steel I-beams were located at the top of the first tier. The pagoda was completely collapsed after the Gorkha earthquake in 2015. The article discusses behavior and capacity of the pagoda under a seismic load. Two FE models are prepared, representing the state before and after the above-mentioned intervention. The adopted material properties are determined on the basis of the dynamic identification and laboratory material tests. Pushover and nonlinear dynamic analysis (NDA) are applied. An accelerogram generated from the Gorkha earthquake is considered for NDA. The applied seismic analyses examine closely the behavior and capacity of the pagoda before and after the intervention. The article provides suggestions for the seismic analysis of pagoda-type structures.