A Comparison of Seismic Sensitivity Analysis of Brick Masonry Buildings with Mud Mortar by Solid and Shell Modelling Approach: A Case Study on Bhaktapur, Nepal

Abstract

Kathmandu valley’s traditional dwellings are constructed with brick masonry by traditional technology. These buildings resistance to earthquake is vulnerable. So, these buildings should be conserved against probable earthquakes. The seismic evaluation of these masonry buildings with timber floors is primary focus of this study. The study is divided into two parts. The first part comprises modelling of the buildings. Two different methods of modelling are adopted for these modelling of masonry buildings with timber floors and without timber floors. In first modelling approach (Solid model), the brick work is discretized as the eight nodded solid elements while in shell model brick is divided into four nodded shell elements. In second part, comparison of various seismic parameters i.e., time period, displacement and internal stresses are carried out by discriminant analysis technique of multivariate statistics for different load cases including gravity and earthquake loads by seismic coefficient method.

After analysis of three buildings of 2 storey, 4 storey and 6 storey building by shell and solid models, the result obtained for in-plane and out-of plane displacement, time period, internal stresses from these models does not have significance difference. Sensitivity analysis of structure with timber flexible flooring and without flooring shows that displacement in out of plane is without flooring is more than that of timber flooring.