Finite Element Evaluation of Seismic Response to RC Interventions in Historical Masonry: Erzurum Stone Granaries

Abstract

This study investigates the seismic behavior of the Erzurum Stone Granaries, a 175-meter-long and 41-meter-wide historical masonry structure located in eastern Türkiye. The building, featuring multi-leaf stone masonry walls with an average thickness of 70 cm, has undergone structural modifications, including the addition of reinforced concrete columns, beams, and slabs during recent restorations. To assess the effects of these additions, two distinct finite element models were developed using ANSYS APDL: the Reinforce Concrete-Model (RC-Model), which includes reinforced concrete interventions, and the M−model, which represents the structure without them. Macro-modeling with SOLID65 elements and the Willam-Warnke failure criterion was employed. Modal analysis results showed that the first mode frequency decreased from 11.41 Hz in the RC-model to 7.62 Hz in the M−model, indicating a reduction in stiffness due to the removal of the concrete elements. Nonlinear time-history analyses using scaled ground motions revealed that displacements in the RC-model remained below 3 mm, while displacements in the M−model exceeded 30 mm in critical regions, leading to partial collapses. These findings demonstrate the significant contribution of reinforced concrete elements to the box effect and enhanced axial loading, ultimately improving the seismic performance of the structure. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd