Numerical Analysis of Ancient Multi-Drum Columns with Epistyles under Dynamic Loadings

Abstract eng:
In this research work, the Discrete Element Methods (DEM) is utilized to investigate the response of ancient multi-drum columns during harmonic and earthquake excitations by simulating the individual rock blocks as distinct rigid bodies. The drums can undergo rocking either individually or in groups resulting in several different and alternating shapes of oscillations. A specialized software application has been developed, using modern object-oriented programming technologies and computer graphics to effectively perform efficient seismic simulations of multi-block structures. The contact stiffness and damping coefficients are estimated by performing small scale experiments and comparing the response with a corresponding numerical simulation. The effect of the coefficient of friction is numerically examined, since its value can significantly influence the overall response. The sliding effect under dynamic loading is examined both experimentally and numerically. Using the developed software, parametric simulations of multi-drum columns are performed in order to investigate and understand the influence of different characteristics of earthquake excitations as well as the various mechanical and geometrical characteristics of these structures on their seismic response. Furthermore, columns with an epistyle are examined under harmonic excitations, in order to assess the influence of the excitation frequency and the number of drums that compose each individual multi-drum column on the dynamic behavior and response of a colonnade. Multi-drum Columns, Earthquake Response, Engineering Software Development

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