Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering

Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering

Dynamic Identification of the Wind-Catcher Structure based on Frequency- and Time-Domain Analyses of Experimental Results

Document Type : Research Article

Author
Hamed Azizi-Bondarabadi
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
10.48303/bese.2024.2031437.1167
Abstract
The present paper addresses the structural behavior of a tower-like historic structure called wind-catcher. The wind-catchers are important architectural elements in Persian architecture. These unique elements were used in old Iran, in particular in the world heritage city of Yazd, to create cross ventilation and passive cooling for protecting houses’ residences against hot environmental conditions. However, their structural performance under dynamic loads (earthquake and heavy wind) is a matter of concern due to their relative high height, high slenderness ratio, and poor material and construction details. Nevertheless, evaluating their dynamic behavior is out of the scope of the relevant research in literature. Dynamic identification tests are known as one of the most robust tools for evaluating the dynamic behavior of structures. In the case of heritage constructions, the tests should respect the minimum intervention principle, which addresses the use of diagnosis/strengthening methods with minimum damage to the building under restoration. For this reason, the use of ambient vibration tests to identify the real dynamic behavior of such structures has received significant attention in recent years. The test is an output-only vibration test, where only the vibration response is measured during the service conditions of a structure (under wind, sound, or traffic vibrations).
Accordingly, this paper aims to identify the wind-catcher dynamic behavior, namely the determination of natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios of its different modes, with minimum damage to the structure. For this purpose, the ambient vibration test was conducted on two wind-catchers belonging to two houses located in Yazd's historic fabric. The sampled structures, which date back to about 200 years ago, are classified as high-height wind-catchers of the city houses.
To obtain an overall and initial estimation from the modal behavior of the studied structures, a finite element model implemented in the DIANA software was employed to conduct eigenvalue analysis before conducting the tests. The numerical results were also used to determine the installation points of accelerometers to be sure of identifying the real modes of the tested structures. A macro-modeling approach was used to simulate masonry as a homogeneous isotropic material in a continuum element. More than 100,000 solid elements were used to model each of the studied structures, adopting initial values for material properties (Young modulus and specific weight) from literature. It was also assumed that the translational degree of freedoms of both structures are restrained where they are connected to the underlying building. As a result, four accelerometer sensors were adopted for the purpose of in-situ ambient vibration tests. The sensors were placed on the four corners of the structures’ top level.
Next, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) was performed on the test results using frequency- and time-domain signal processing methods implemented in the Artemis software. The Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD) method and its enhanced version (EFDD), which are based on frequency peak picking, were employed as frequency-domain methods. The extended Unweighted Principal Component (UPCX) technique, a subset of Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI) methods, was also adopted. Finally, the results obtained were compared. The comparison showed that the modal parameters obtained from different OMA techniques have relatively similar values, implying that the obtained results represent the real modal behavior of the structures under study. The paper results can be used to obtain an updated numerical model for which material properties, geometrical features, and boundary conditions are calibrated with respect to experimental results. The calibrated model is able to simulate the test-obtained modal parameters. Updated numerical models are necessary for structural health monitoring, detection of existing damage, safety assessment, and seismic vulnerability evaluation of structures.
Keywords
Ambient Vibration Test
Operational Modal Analysis
Stochastic Subspace Identification
Artemis Software
DIANA Software
Yazd

Subjects

Aghabeigi, P., & Farahmand-Tabar, S. (2021). Seismic vulnerability assessment and retrofitting of historic masonry building of Malek Timche in Tabriz Grand Bazaar. Engineering Structures, 240, 112418.
Altunişik, A., Adanur, S., Genç, A. F., Günaydin, M., & Okur, F. Y. (2016). Non-destructive testing of an ancient masonry bastion. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 22, 1049-1054. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2016.05.008
Andersen, P., & Brincker, R. (2001). The stochastic subspace identification techniques. Structural Vibration Solutions A/S.
ARTeMIS. (2019). Structural Vibration Solutions A/S (Version 6.0). NOVI Science Park, Aalborg East, Denmark
Ashayeri, I., Biglari, M., Formisano, A., & D'Amato, M. (2021). Ambient vibration testing and empirical relation for natural period of historical mosques. Case study of eight mosques in Kermanshah, Iran. Construction and Building Materials, 289, 123191. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123191
Aziz-Bondarabadi, H., & H. Sadeghi, N. (2024). Modal analysis of the windcatcher structure based on the ambient vibration test results (in Persian). Paper presented at the Ninth International Conference on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (SEE9), Tehran, Iran.
Bahadori, M. N. (1978). Passive cooling systems in Iranian architecture. Scientific American, 238(2), 144-154.
Bayraktar, A., Türker, T., Sevım, B., Altunişik, A., & Yildirim, F. (2009). Modal parameter identification of Hagia Sophia bell-tower via ambient vibration test. Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, 28,  37-47.      doi: 10.1007/s10921-009-0045-9
Brincker, R., Zhang, L., & Andersen, P. (2001). Modal identification of output-only systems using frequency domain decomposition. Smart Materials and Structures, 10(3), 441.
D’Ambrisi, A., Mariani, V., & Mezzi, M. (2012). Seismic assessment of a historical masonry tower with nonlinear static and dynamic analyses tuned on ambient vibration tests. Engineering Structures, 36, 210-219.
Dehghan, A. A., Esfeh Kazemi, M., & Dehghan Manshadi, M. (2013). Natural ventilation characteristics of one-sided wind catchers: experimental and analytical evaluation. Energy and Buildings, 61, 366-377. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013. 02.048
DIANA FEA BV. (2021). DIANA Release 10.5. Delft, Netherlands.
Didepardaz Saba. (2023). Dideardaz Saba Vibration Department. Retrieved from https://vibration. didepardaz.ir
Emadian Razavi, z. (2018). Typology of Windcatchers of the Department of Art and Architecture of Yazd University (in Persian). Retrieved from Yazd, Iran:
Ewins, D. J. (1986). Modal testing: theory and practice. Journal of Vibration, Acoustics, Stress, and Reliability in Design
Foti, D., Diaferio, M., Giannoccaro, N. I., & Mongelli, M. (2012). Ambient vibration testing, dynamic identification and model updating of a historic tower. NDT & E International, 47, 88-95. doi: 10.1016/j. ndteint.2011.11.009
Gara, F., Nicoletti, V., Arezzo, D., Cipriani, L., & Leoni, G. (2023). Model updating of cultural heritage buildings through swarm intelligence algorithms. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/15583058.2023.2277324
Hejazi, B., & Hejazi, M. (2014). Persian wind towers: Architecture, cooling performance and seismic behaviour. International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics, 9(1). doi:10.2495/DNE-V9-N1-56-70
Hoseini, M. (2020). Identifiaction and Documantation of the Windcatchers of Yazd (in Persian). Retrieved from Yazd, Iran.
ICOMOS/ISCARSAH. (2003). Recommendations for the Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration of Architectural Heritage (www.icomos.org).
Jacobsen, N. J., Andersen, P., & Brincker, R. (2007). Using EFDD as a robust technique for deterministic excitation in operational modal analysis. Paper Presented at the the 2nd International Operational Modal Analysis Conference.
Jafari, M. K., Davoodi, M., & Razzaghi, M. (2003). Evaluation of dynamic characteristics of Marun embankment dam using ambient vibration test and FEM (in Persian). Journal of Computational Methods in Engineering, 22(1), 109-127. doi: 20.1001.1. 22287698.1382.22.1.8.7
Jomehzadeh, F., Hussen, H. M., Calautit, J. K., Nejat, P., & Ferwati, M. S. (2020). Natural ventilation by windcatcher (Badgir): A review on the impacts of geometry, microclimate and macroclimate. Energy and Buildings, 226, 110396. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2020. 110396
Jomehzadeh, F., Nejat, P., Calautit, J. K., Yusof, M. B., Zaki, S. A., Hughes, B. R., & Yazid, M. N. (2017).      A review on windcatcher for passive cooling and natural ventilation in buildings, Part 1: Indoor air quality and thermal comfort assessment. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 70, 736-756. doi:  10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.254
Kabir Saber, M. (2022). Safety Assessment of Chimneys of the Sohrol Historic Church (in Persian). (M.S.). Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran.
Karanikoloudis, G., & Lourenço, P. B. (2018). Structural assessment and seismic vulnerability of earthen historic structures. Application of sophisticated numerical and simple analytical models. Engineering Structures, 160, 488-509. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct. 2017.12.023
Lameie, M., Ashayeri, I., Biglari, M., & Kadivar, M. A. (2015). Soil-structure system identification with ambient vibration tests (A case-study on a surface pier of Kermanshah urban railroad). Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering, 2(3), 1-13.
Lorenzoni, F., Valluzzi, M. R., & Modena, C. (2019). Seismic assessment and numerical modelling of the Sarno Baths, Pompeii. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 40, 288-298. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2019.04.017
Mahmoudi, M., & Mofidi, S. M. (2008). An analysis of the architectural typology of windcatchers in Yazd and finding the optimal functional type (in Persian). Journal of Fine Arts: Visual Arts, 36, 28-31.
Mahyari, A. (1996). The Wind Catcher: a Passive Cooling Device for Hot Arid Climate. (Ph.D.). The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Mellinger, P., Döhler, M., & Mevel, L. (2016). Variance estimation of modal parameters from output-only and input/output subspace-based system identification. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 379,     1-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jsv.2016.05.037
Meybodian, H., Eslami, A., & Morshed, R. (2020). Sustainable lateral strengthening of traditional adobe walls using natural reinforcements. Construction and Building Materials, 260, 119892. doi: 10.1016/j. conbuildmat.2020.119892
Michel, C., Karbassi, A., & Lestuzzi, P. (2018). Evaluation of the seismic retrofitting of an unreinforced masonry building using numerical modeling and ambient vibration measurements. Engineering Structures, 158, 124-135. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct. 2017.12.016
Nami, S. (2019). Seismic Assessment and Strengthening of Chimneys of the Khosravi Leather Factory (in Persian). (M.S.). Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran.
Ozcelik, O., Misir, I. S., Yucel, U., Durmazgezer, E., Yucel, G., & Amaddeo, C. (2022).  Model updating     of Masonry courtyard walls of the historical Isabey mosque using ambient vibration measurements. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring. doi:10.1007/s13349-022-00610-3
Pachón, P., Castro, R., García-Macías, E., Compan, V., & Puertas, E. (2018). E. Torroja’s bridge: Tailored experimental setup for SHM of a historical bridge with a reduced number of sensors. Engineering Structures, 162, 11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.02.035
Parvizi Milani, S. (2012). Study on Dynamic Specification of the Historic Buildings of Arg-e-Tabriz, Timche Malek and Kabood Mosque Using Microtremor Measurement (in Persian). (M.S.). Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran.
Pourahmadi, M., & Ayatollahi, S. M. H. (2011). Refunctioning solutions for different wind catchers of Yazd based on their related summer side spaces (in Persian). Journal of Architecture in Hot and Dry Climate, 1(1), 7-18. doi: 20.1001.1.26453711.1390. 1.1.1.4
Poursalman, A. R. (2020). Traditional construction details of Badgir (in Persian). Retrieved from Yazd, Iran.
Ramos, L. (2007). Damage Identification on Masonry Structures Based on Vibration Signatures. (Ph.D.). University of Minho, Guimaraes, Portugal. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1822/7380
Roaf, S. (1988). The Wind Catcher of Yazd. (Ph.D). Oxford Polytechnic, England.
Roselli, I., Malena, M., Mongelli, M., Cavalagli, N., Gioffrè, M., De Canio, G., & de Felice, G. (2018). Health assessment and ambient vibration testing of the “Ponte delle Torri” of Spoleto during the 2016–2017 Central Italy seismic sequence. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 8(2), 199-216. doi: 10. 1007/s13349-018-0268-5
Sánchez-Aparicio, L. J., Bautista-De Castro, Á., Conde, B., Carrasco, P., & Ramos, L. F. (2019). Non-destructive means and methods for structural diagnosis of masonry arch bridges. Automation in Construction, 104, 360-382. doi: 10.1016/j.autcon.2019.04.021
Yadegari, J., & Bahar, O. (2010). Modal Parameter Identification using Ambient Vibration Testing with Introducing a new Software (in Persian). Journal of Civil and Surveying Engineering, 44(1), 121-130.
Yarshater, E. (1989). Encyclopaedia, Iranica (E. Yars

  • Receive Date 07 June 2024
  • Revise Date 10 July 2024
  • Accept Date 17 August 2024