Dynamic response of masonry minarets strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites

Engineering structures strengthened with FRP composites are gaining popularity, and there is a growing need to understand and compare the behavior of these structures before/after FRP composite strengthening. In this paper, it is aimed to determine the dynamic response of masonry minarets before/after FRP composite strengthening. An Iskenderpasa historical masonry minaret dating back to XVI century with a height of 21 m located in Trabzon, Turkey was selected as an application. Firstly, 3-D finite element model of the minaret was constituted using ANSYS software. Then, an analytical model of the minaret was analyzed using the 1992 Erzincan earthquake record, which occurred near the area, to determine the dynamic behavior. After this, the cylindrical body of the minaret was strengthened with FRP composite using different configurations and dynamic analyses were performed. Finally, dynamic responses of the minaret before and after FRP composite strengthening, such as displacements and maximum-minimum principal stresses, were compared. At the end of the study, it is seen that displacements had increased along the height of the minaret, maximum and minimum principal stresses occur at the region of transition segment and cylindrical body for all analyses. Also, it is seen from the earthquake analyses that FRP strengthening is very effective on the dynamic responses of the minaret.