Seismic Performance of the Amritesvara Temple: Shake Table Test of a Dry Stone Masonry Structure

Abstract

Ancient structures were constructed by considering only vertical static loads. The seismic response of ancient masonry structures depends on their material properties, the geometry of the structure, the types of connections between various structural components, the stiffness of the floors and the strength of the non-structural elements. The rich and diverse architectural traditions across India provide evidence of the structural efficiency and technological skill of Indian craftsmen and builders. Studying the structural behaviour of Indian heritage buildings has national importance. In this study, the seismic vulnerability of the Amritesvara temple was evaluated. Built in 1196 and is located 260.8 km from Bengaluru, India. This study involved a shake table test of the temple. Experiments were conducted at the Earthquake and Vibration Research Centre, Bengaluru. According to the size and payload capacity of the shaking table, a 1:3 scale model was adopted. The model was subjected to various peak ground accelerations from 0.05 to 0.1 g. The dynamic properties of the model were evaluated through the experiments. The experimental results were used for validating the numerical model, which was used to conduct further investigations on the prototype.