Author(s)

A.S. Cakmak, M.N. Natsis & C.L. Mullen

Abstract

Finite element studies of the Hagia Sophia, a sixth century masonry edifice, in Istanbul, Turkey, provide insight to the structure's response to dynamic loads. The church contains four great brick arches springing from stone piers that offer primary support for a 31-meter diameter central dome and two semidomes. Stone and brick masonry material properties for the nu- merical model are adjusted to match system mode shapes and frequencies identified from measured response to a recent low-intensity earthquake. The calibrated model is used to predict the measured responses, and the effect of soil-structure interaction is demonstrated. Stresses under simulated severe earthquake loading are estimated at the critical locations in the arches. 1 Introduction Begun in 532 as the pr

Keywords