Seismic response of classical monuments-a numerical perspective developed at the Temple of Apollo in Bassae,Greece |
| |
| Authors: | Dimitri Papastamatiou Loannis Psycharis |
| |
| Abstract: | We report on the initial phase of assessing numerically the seismic vulnerability of sections of the Temple of Apollo in Bassae, in the W. Peloponnesus, Greece. The site is exposed to large subduction earthquakes and to smaller local extensional events. In this phase the only link with the seismotectonic environment is the selection of representative recorded accelerograms for numerical analysis. The analysis confirms the highly non-linear nature of the response of megalithic structures relying for their stability on the friction and cohesion between the constituent blocks. Intact sections of the Temple showed substantial resistance to strong ground motions due to their capacity to absorb energy with large relative movements of the building blocks that do not impair the stability of the structure. However, imperfections typical of the present condition of the monument, namely deterioration of the building stones and of the foundation material, substantially reduce the stability threshold. Powerful numerical tools are available to assist rational schemes for the protection of ancient structures and to subject archaeological hypotheses to numerical tests. This analysis quantifies the effects of weaknesses of the structure and allows testing the effectiveness of strengthening procedures. In the archaeological context there is a strong interaction with the ongoing geodynamic processes. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
