Impact of Iron Clamps and Dowels on the Vulnerability of Ancient Masonry Walls

Year 2024, Volume: 28 Issue: 4, 844 - 854, 31.08.2024

Funda Gençer

https://doi.org/10.16984/saufenbilder.1464317

Abstract

Various masonry wall organization techniques were used in ancient Anatolian buildings depending on the local characteristics and the kind of stone used in the region. Traces of iron clamps or dowels can be seen on numerous ancient walls. This study's main goals are to ascertain the impact of iron clamps and dowels on the vulnerability of various ancient wall organizations in Anatolia and investigate potential relationships between wall organization types and clamp or dowel usage. Another study objective is to gather information about using metal connectors for restoration or anastylosis studies in archaeological sites.
First, a site analysis was performed on ancient cities to document various types of masonry. Four types of walls, namely isodomic, isodomic with header and stretcher, pseudo isodomic, and isodomic in alternation header and stretcher row were determined. Quasi-static tilt analysis was performed on 3D models of walls without clamps and dowels, with clamps, and with dowels to compare the failure mechanisms of the wall types.
As a result, the wall type with the highest strength gain when metal connectors were utilized in the analysis was isodomic organization, which also includes numerous traces of clamps and dowels in ancient cities. This indicates that knowledge was gained because of experiences against lateral loads at that time. This information is not only significant in terms of understanding the history of architecture but also provides data to reinforce ancient walls during conservation work.

Keywords

Ashlar masonry, Failure mechanisms, Metal connectors, Tilt analysis, Conservation

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