NATURAL HAZARDS AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES, vol.11, no.7, pp.2011-2019, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Engineering structures strengthened with FRP composites are gaining popularity, and there is a growing need to understand and compare the behavior of these structures before/after FRP composite strengthened. In this paper, it is aimed to determine the dynamic response of masonry minarets before/after FRP composite strengthened. İskenderpaşa historical masonry minaret dating back to XVI century with a height of 21 m located in Trabzon, Turkey is selected as an application. Firstly, 3D finite element model of the minaret is constituted using ANSYS software. Then, analytical model of the minaret is analyzed using the 1992 Erzincan earthquake record, which was occurred near the area, to determine the dynamic behavior. After, cylindrical body of the minaret is strengthened with FRP composite using different configurations and dynamic analyses are performed. Lastly, dynamic responses of the minaret before and after FRP composite strengthened such as displacements and maximum-minimum principal stresses are compared with each other. At the end of the study, it is seen that displacements increase along the height of the minaret, maximum and minimum principal stresses occur at the region of transition segment and cylindrical body for all analyses. Also, it is seen from the earthquake analyses that FRP strengthened is very effective on the dynamic responses of the minaret.