Window opening effects on structural behaviour of historical masonry Fatih Mosque

Structural walls of old historical structures are either blind or have openings for functional
requirements. It is well known that in and out of plane responses of structural walls are affected
by the size, locations and arrangements of such openings. The purpose of this investigation is to
study the window opening effects on static and seismic behaviors of historical masonry old
mosques. Fatih Mosque, which was converted from a church, constructed in 914 in Trabzon,
Turkey is selected for this purpose. The mosque is being restored. Structural exterior walls of the
mosque were made using stone and mortar materials. When the plaster on the walls was removed
during the restoration, 12 window openings were found as blind on the exterior structural walls of
the mosque. Within the scope of restoration works, it is aimed to open such blind windows. In
order to investigate the effects of the window openings on the structural behavior of the mosque,
3D solid and finite elements models of the mosque with and without window openings are initially
developed. The experimental dynamic characteristics such as frequency, damping ratio and mode
shapes of the current situation of the mosque, where some windows openings are blind, are
determined using Ambient Vibration Testing. Then, the finite element model of the current
situation of the mosque is updated using the experimental dynamic characteristics. The static and
seismic time history analyses of the updated finite element model with and without window
openings are carried out. Structural behaviors of the mosque with and without window openings
are compared considering displacement and stress propagations.