Identification of experimental dynamic characteristics of historical mosques and minarets and evaluation of restoration effects

In this study, experimental dynamic characteristics of historical mosques and minarets with different structural systems have been determined by using the Ambient Vibration Testing Method. The restoration effects are scrutinized by comparing the dynamic data before and after the restoration. The thesis consists of four main chapters. The first chapter gives types of historical artifacts, types and causes of damages, restoration techniques, formulations of experimental methods, information about mosques and minarets, and literature review. The second chapter presents introductory information about selected samples, which are thirty one mosques and thirty two minarets with different structural systems, restoration processes, and information on the field applications related to the experimental measurements. The third chapter mentions on the evaluation of experimental results, proposed approximate natural frequencies formulas for the mosques with masonry wooden roofing, massive masonry dome and wooden structural system and masonry and reinforced concrete minarets, evaluation of damping ratios and mode shapes, and effects of restoration processes on the monuments. The fourth chapter presents the results obtained from the thesis and suggestions for future studies. The result of this study shows that analytical natural frequency of historical mosques and minarets can be obtained approximately from the developed formulations based on experimental methods, and also, damping ratio and modal behaviors can be predicted. In addition, the results illustrate that the impact of restoration applications on the structures have a considerable effect on the dynamic characteristics of the structures.