Experimental investigation of dynamic behavior parameters of a single span historical arch bridge

Anatolian land, which has hosted countless civilizations, is considered to be an open-air museum with many historical artifacts. Historical bridges have a special place in our architectural-cultural heritage, which varies greatly depending on the region where they are built and the needs they meet. It is important to examine the current status of historical bridges and to carry out studies on their safely transfer into the future. In our country, it is not legally possible to examine the historical bridges under protection with destructive methods. The most suitable method in which the structural system can be examined as a whole and dynamic behavior characteristics can be obtained experimentally is the operational modal analysis method. Within the scope of this thesis, studies were carried out to experimentally obtain and analyze the dynamic behavior parameters of the historical Pehlivanlı Bridge, located within the borders of Erzurum province, by the operational modal analysis method in the pre-restoration, during the restoration, and post-restoration periods. With the operational modal analysis application, it was determined that the mode shapes of Pehlivanlı Bridge changed due to the spandrel wall damage approximately two years after the restoration. It was determined that the modal behavior parameters defined after the repair of the damage did not match with the undamaged state immediately after restoration. As a result, it was concluded that the structural health of historical bridges can be monitored through the dynamic behavior parameters to be obtained experimentally with the operational modal analysis application to be carried out periodically.