Open AccessDynamic Characteristic Investigation of a Historical Masonry Building and Surrounding Ground in Kathmandu
Author(s) -
Hari Ram Parajuli,
Junji Kiyono,
Masatoshi Tatsumi,
Yoshiyuki Suzuki,
Hisashi Umemura,
Hiroki Taniguchi,
Kenzo Toki,
Aiko Furukawa,
Prem Nath Maskey
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of disaster research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.332
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1883-8030
pISSN - 1881-2473
DOI - 10.20965/jdr.2011.p0026
Subject(s) - microtremor , masonry , seismology , ambient vibration , vibration , cultural heritage , geology , natural disaster , structural engineering , geotechnical engineering , civil engineering , engineering , geography , physics , acoustics , archaeology , oceanography
Saving human lives and cultural heritage from natural disasters is a key to earthquake-disaster mitigation strategies. Culturally valued structures built before earthquake codes and regulations emerged are often vulnerable to earthquake loads, but such structures must be comprehensively studied before applying mitigation measures. Microtremor measurements in Patan Durbar Square area, a World Heritage site, were investigated to determine dynamic properties of the soil at four locations and the predominant ground frequency calculated to be 2.07 Hz. Ambient vibration in an old masonry building was measured and vibration frequencies in different modes were detected using the Fourier spectrum, which found that the building has fundamental period in transverse direction. The building’s damping was estimated to be 5.2-6.4%.