Finite Element Analyses of Aghjots Monastery Taking into Account Seismic Action

Abstract:

Aghjots Monastery was built in IX - XIII centuries within the Khosrov State Reserve in Armenia. It takes a vantage point in the slope and is featured with beauty and unique carvings. Aghjots Monastery consists of the Saint Stephan church, which is the cruciform inscribed in a rectangle externally rectangular church with a cruciform interior, a single apse and four corner - chambers (two-story side-chapels in each corner), the church of Saints Peter and Paul, is the single naved hall-type church with no freestanding pillars and no dome and a gavit adjacent [1,2]. Aghjots Monastery experienced some strong earthquakes which resulted in its almost complete destruction. This article presents a description of the existing state of the Aghjots monastery and importance of the detailing geometrical survey, decay and material mapping. Stress-strain state of main church at seismic action including dynamic behavior of Saint Stephan church is considered in the article. The bearing system is modeled by using shell finite elements by software based on finite element methods. This proves to be an important feature to understand the damage mechanisms, solve the conservation and reconstruction problems.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1020)
• Pages: 248-252
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1020.248
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Lusine Karapetyan*
• Keywords: FEM Model, Historical Monument, Masonry Building, Seismic Action, Stress-Strain State, Structural Analyses

References

[1] Jhamkochyan H. G., Armenian history since the beginning to XVIII c. Yerevan University Editorial, Yerevan, (1975) 782.

[2] Harutyunyan V., History of Armenian architecture. Luys, Yerevan, (1982) 631.

[3] Zakaryan L., Aghdjots Saint Stepanos. Yerevan University Editiorial, Yerevan, (2007) 273.

[4] SNRA II-2. 02-2006 Earthquake Resistant Buildings. Standard for Design, RA Ministry of Urban Development, Yerevan (2006).

[5] Karapetyan L., Khachikyan L., Vardanyan A. Conservation problems of Aghjots monastic complex: submitted to Journal of the 6th International Congress Sience and Technology for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin, Greece (2013).

[6] EN 1998-1, EC8, Design of structures for earthquake resistance: General rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings, Europian Committee for Standard, Brussels, (2004).

DOI: 10.3403/03244372u

[7] ICOMOS, International Council on Monument and Sites, Recommendations for the analysis, conservation and structural restoration of architectural heritage, Document approved in Committee meeting in Barcelona the 15th June (2005).