Seismic damage evaluation of historical masonry towers through numerical model

This study assessed the seismic damage to historical masonry towers using a three-dimensional finite element (FE) numerical model. The FE model was validated by comparing the dynamic characteristics and seismic analysis results with experimental data obtained using shaking table tests conducted on a 1/8 scaled tower model. Based on this analysis, a numerical analysis model of the damaged ancient brick masonry tower was established by introducing factors such as initial cracks and inclination, and the damage FE model was validated using experimental data provided by the shaking table tests. Subsequently, the damage index of the wall components were obtained using the modified Park–Ang damage model; these were used to obtain the damage indices of the historical tower floors, which were further used to obtain the overall damage indices of the historical tower. Furthermore, the performance levels of historical towers were proposed, and the damage indices at different performance levels were quantified using various parameters. Finally, the damage to the historical tower model in the shaking table test was analyzed based on the various quantitative results.