Investigation on Performance of Heritage Masonry Structures

Abstract

A structural assessment study on the “Humayun Palace” in Tamil Nadu, a cultural heritage structure, constructed in the early 1700’s was done. Based on the original design documentation collected through records, a static analysis model of the building was generated. This structure is a 3-storey building and details of all the provisions from the slab system to the roof tiles were made. The results developed by these models, aimed at fully understanding the original design concept of the various members, as well as at evaluating their current static and seismic safety conditions, are reported in this paper. This analysis was examined using E-TABS software, whose geometric limitations lead to minor encumbrances. Some complex geometric façade features were approximated to convenience and overcome. The results of the analyses highlight safe conditions and good performance objectives in general, but for some important exceptions. The overall satisfactory performance may be attributed to the overdesigning with excessive safety factors carried out by builders of that century, enabling the structure to withstand conditions way past its intended life. However, the question as to how well the structure will hold good in the future is hypothetical. It is for the same reason that the Public Works Department has allocated nearly 96 crore rupees for the rehabilitation of the same. This investigation is synchronous with the objectives of the said rehabilitation project and has established an exhaustive analysis of the structural health of the structure.

Keywords

• un-reinforced masonry
• rehabilitation
• response reduction factor
• importance factor
• retrofitting