Application of Endurance Time Analysis in Seismic Evaluation of an Unreinforced Masonry Monument

In this article, seismic behavior of the main dome of a well-known middle-eastern historical- monument, “Imam Reza Shrine” (Mashhad, Iran) which is located in a high seismic area in Iran is evaluated. This study focuses on the response history analysis using intensifying dynamic excitations in the framework of Endurance Time Method. Endurance Time Analysis gives acceptable results for a wide range of earthquake intensities and considerably reduces the computational demand in comparison to the conventional Time History Analysis and Incremental Dynamic Analysis. The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability and efficiency of Endurance Time Analysis for masonry monuments and to suggest modifications and interpretations to improve compatibility of the results with Time History Analysis. In addition, to facilitate evaluation of the structural behavior, a dimensionless index, Cumulative Plastic Strain Index, is proposed as a criterion to compare structural performance in terms of the severity and the extent of damage as a function of earthquake intensity.