Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of a Historic Masonry-Timber Building: The Case of Katharina Hunting Mansion

Abstract

Historic buildings are clear testaments to human civilization, and their preservation is essential for the world's cultural heritage. This study examines a unique heritage building in Turkiye that represents a brief period of Russian rule and its architectural style. The structure, the historic Katharina Hunting Mansion, was constructed by the Russians in the Sarıkamış district of Kars Province following the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War. The mansion features a unique Scandinavian saddle notch (known as 'v chashu' in Russian and 'çantı system' in the Black Sea region). A survey was conducted to determine the deformations of the building, which included the preparation of plans, facades, and sections. The architectural investigation revealed that yellow pine, a common species in the region's forests, was used as the construction material. Architectural restoration proposals were developed based on the results of seismic analyses and the classification of architectural elements as either later additions or missing components. A unique methodology that combines various seismic analysis methods in accordance with the applicable local seismic codes was performed for the seismic performance assessment. For this purpose, the finite element model of the historic mansion was subjected to linear, nonlinear, and kinematic analyses. In the analyses, both the local seismic code TBEC-2018 and the SRMGHS-2017 guideline were considered, due to the historical status and structural system of the building. This process determined whether the structure meets the Limited Damage and Controlled Damage performance objectives for DD-3 and DD-2 earthquake levels, as envisaged in the local seismic codes. The linear analysis revealed that the building met the seismic performance objective with respect to inter-story drifts. Furthermore, the results of the nonlinear pushover analysis also indicated that the building satisfied performance objectives regarding shear forces and corresponding displacements. Moreover, the kinematic analysis determined that all local collapse mechanisms occurred at DD-2 and DD-3 earthquake levels, except for the overturning mechanism under DD-2. Therefore, the restoration proposals recommended using clamping at the wall joints to prevent potential local collapse. This study contributes to the field by presenting a comprehensive methodology for the seismic assessment of historic masonry-timber buildings. Additionally, the seismic performance of this historic building, featuring a unique combination of masonry and timber elements, was found to be generally satisfactory and compliant with current local codes.