Investigation of structural behaviour of historical Erzurum Lala Pasha Mosque using finite element method

Abstract

The mosques are the most important pieces of Islamic culture in terms of their architectural and structural properties. The mosques and complexes are built in the center of living areas and constituted important structures in the surroundings in Islamic culture. Therefore, it is very common to observe the mosques in almost every city center. In this study, Lala Pasha Mosque, which is located in the city, center of Erzurum and which take an important part among Erzurum's historical monuments, is investigated by means of static and dynamic analyses by the use of finite element method. The material properties and formulas, given in the literature, have been considered in order to obtain the structural behavior of the structure. The results of the analyses show that the most critical parts of the mosque are the dome, pulley, and the supports of the main arch structures that carry the main dome. Additionally, the dynamic analyses prove that the most critical parts of the mosque are the sub-sections of the main columns, the window edges, and small domes. Moreover, the narthex section has been determined one of the most critical parts in terms of seismic loads.