Numerical investigation of the post-elastic seismic response of the multi-vaulted Beit-El-Din Hammam

Gerges, Amal;Porcu, Maria Cristina

;Cazzani, Antonio

2024-01-01

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Abstract

The Beit-El-Din Hammam is a Lebanese masonry monument characterised by vaults pierced by holes. Despite its huge importance for the Lebanese heritage, the vulnerability of this monument to exceptional actions has not yet been assessed. The present study aims to contribute to filling this gap by carrying out a dedicated dynamic numerical investigation. Environmental modal tests were carried out to find the natural frequencies, through which a detailed 3D model was identified. Nonlinear dynamic analyses under spectrum-consistent earthquakes were performed, where the inelastic behaviour of the masonry was described through a concrete damage plasticity model. The results of the study predicted the damage pattern that could affect the monument. A twin model led to assessing the effect of holes on the tensile damage of vaults. The paper offers a contribution to the debate on the post-elastic and ductile behaviour of masonry Hammams with multi-holed vaults, typical structures in Arabic countries.