Abstract
The stability and vulnerability analyses carried out on the Stylite tower at Umm ar−Rasas, Jordan, are presented in this paper. The tower is a unique example of this kind of structure still existing. The soil and the structural material were analyzed by means of in situ ex− perimental tests. These consisted of Schmidt−hammer tests on stone blocks and passive seismic measurements. The stability of the tower was first analyzed, assuming an elastic – perfect plastic behavior in compression for masonry. Then the push−over seismic analysis was carried out, which was based on a single−mode approach and a finite solid element modelling with a Drucker−Prager yield criterion for masonry. The work is propaedeutic to the design of a retrofit intervention.
Highlights
Masonry towers and columns were built in ancient cultures as religious structures, as in the case of minarets and bell towers of churches, or to celebrate military victories, as in the case of the Roman's columns
The analysis focused mainly on the present structural health status and on the evaluation of the potential risk under the design earthquake scenario
Reasonable strength and deformability characteristics of the masonry were derived reducing conveniently those of the stone units, according to the available literature
Summary
Masonry towers and columns were built in ancient cultures as religious structures, as in the case of minarets and bell towers of churches, or to celebrate military victories, as in the case of the Roman's columns. The stability and the seismic vulnera− bility of the Stylite Tower at Umm ar−Rasas, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan, are analyzed It is the first known and architecturally intact example of this type of tower in this region of the Middle East, sur− vived up to our age [DOA, 2002]. The structure presents damage related to the aging and to past earthquakes, which affected frequently the area [Sbeinati et al, 2005] In the framework of a compre− hensive study of the structure, based on a preliminary evaluation of the material properties, the stability and seismic vulnerability analyses were carried out. The results here shown confirm the present precarious condition of the tower and the necessity of urgent and adequate inter− ventions for its structural preservation
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