Modal identification and dynamic analysis of a 1000 years old historic minaret of Kalaa Beni-Hammad

A 1000-year-old historic minaret at UNESCO World Heritage Site Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad exhibits significant material deterioration, with its rubble stone masonry elastic modulus among the lowest recorded for such structures. This finding was derived from a two-stage finite element (FE) model update using modal identification and frequency response function (FRF) correlation techniques, revealing critical stress zones and guiding the proposal of a steel tie retrofit system to enhance seismic performance. The study also highlights the value of these characterization results in expanding the database for historic monuments, offering insights that could inform conservation strategies worldwide.

Bourahla, N., Assameur, Z., Abed, M., & Mébarki, A. (2021). Modal identification and dynamic analysis of a 1000 years old historic minaret of Kalaa Beni-Hammad. ENP Engineering Science Journal, 1(2), 62–68. https://doi.org/10.53907/enpesj.v1i2.56