Monitoring of a Historical Masonry Structure in Case of Induced Seismicity

ABSTRACT

In case of induced seismicity, expectations from a structural monitoring system are different than in the case of natural seismicity. In this paper, monitoring results of a historical building in Groningen (Netherlands) in case of induced seismicity has been presented. Results of the monitoring, particularities of the monitoring in case of induced earthquakes, as well as the usefulness and need of various monitoring systems for similar cases are discussed. Weak soil properties dominate the structural response in the region; thus, the ground water monitoring as well as the interaction of soil movements with the structural response has also been scrutinized. The proposed study could be effectively used to monitor historical structures subjected to induced seismicity and provide useful information to asset owners to classify the structural health condition of structures in their care.

It was shown that the in-plane cracks at the building would normally not be expected in this structure during small induced earthquakes happening in Groningen. One explanation provided here is that the soil parameters, such as shrinking of water-sensitive soil layers, in combination with small earthquakes, may cause settlements. The soil effects may superimpose with the earthquake effects eventually causing small cracks and damage.

KEYWORDS:

• Historic structures
• induced seismicity
• masonry
• monitoring

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the board of Fraeylemaborg Foundation, and specifically Mrs. Marjon Edzes and Mr. Gerard de Haan for their help and cooperation. Fugro offices in Groningen and in Istanbul are also acknowledged for their insights into the soil properties in the region. Onno Dijkstra from Fugro in Groningen and Dr. Carolina Sigarán-Loría from Royal Haskoning have provided information about the soil properties in Groningen in general. Special thanks to Mrs. Berfin Yardak, Mr. Jelmer Bakker and Mr. Remco van den Belt, students of Hanze University of Applied Sciences, for the useful data collected during their undergraduate project. StabiAlert has provided the tilt data for the study and their contribution has been valuable for the paper. The work would not be complete without the help of Onur Arslan, Katerina Paxinou and Jelle Pama from Hanze Research Centre NoorderRuimte for collecting the data from the structure. Kor Holstein and Daniel van Huizen from Holstein Restoration have been of great help in understanding Fraeylemaborg. The ground water data are taken from Anton Bartelds and his help has been critical for the paper. The authors are grateful to Prof. Floris Boogaard from Hanze Research Centre NoorderRuimte for his valuable insights regarding the ground water data. The technical support by BuildinG (Build in Groningen) and the financial support by EPI Kenniscentrum are gratefully acknowledged. The work has been partially funded by RVO within the project “SafeGO - Seismic Monitoring, Design And Strengthening For thE GrOningen Region”, Grant No: RAAK.MKB09.021.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ See product technical specifications at http://www.teknikdestek.com.tr/tr/urun/13/sensebox702x-703x-?category_id=5.

² Personal communication with Onno Dijkstra from Fugro in Groningen.