Evaluation of Acropolis of Athens under earthquake excitation and a proposal for roof restoration

A structural analysis of the Parthenon on Athens' Acropolis reveals that its columns, particularly corner ones, are the most vulnerable components under seismic excitation. Using finite element modeling (ANSYS), researchers simulated earthquake responses and compared results across different mesh refinements to validate stability. The study also proposed restoring the missing roof with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) due to its lightweight and chemical resistance, but found this approach could risk secondary damage to the ancient structure. While the findings underscore the need for targeted column reinforcement to preserve the monument, they caution against synthetic roof restoration as a viable solution.

Xu, H., Shang, X., Tao, C., & Fang, Z. (2023). Evaluation of Acropolis of Athens under earthquake excitation and a proposal for roof restoration. Civil Engineering and Energy-Environment Vol 1, 48–66. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003433644-7