Exploration and Characterization of Dynamic Properties for Cultural Heritage Conservation: A Case Study for Historical Stone Masonry Buildings in Zanzibar

A strong correlation exists between the natural frequencies of historical stone masonry buildings in Zanzibar Stone Town and their geometric parameters, with R² values ranging from 0.85 to 0.99. This finding was derived through ambient vibration tests (AVT) and eigenvalue analysis (EVA), revealing peak resonance frequencies between 2.8 and 5.3 Hz, non-uniform mode shapes, and damping ratios of 1.35% to 4.45%. Numerical predictions matched field data with high accuracy, as indicated by RMSE (0.29–0.3) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values between 0.81 and 0.99. These insights provide a foundation for targeted conservation strategies to preserve the structural integrity of Stone Town's heritage buildings amid rapid deterioration.

Ali, B. S., Castro, J. J., Omi, S., & Nazimi, K. (2024). Exploration and Characterization of Dynamic Properties for Cultural Heritage Conservation: A Case Study for Historical Stone Masonry Buildings in Zanzibar. Buildings, 14(4), 981. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040981