Tamás Ther

Budapest University of Technology and Economics · Department of Mechanics, Materials and Structures

Studies of rocking motion aim to explain the remarkable earthquake resistance of rocking structures. State-of-the-art assessment methods are mostly based on planar models, despite ongoing efforts to understand the significance of three-dimensionality. Impacts are essential components of rocking motion. We present experimental measurements of free-r...

In this paper, the dynamical similarity of multi-block catenary arches and columns is discussed, which can be used for the simplified design of rocking arches. The basic hypothesis is that the dynamic response of multi-block arches and columns is similar when the shape of the arch follows the thrust line, i.e. it is a catenary arch. It is validated...

Studies of rocking motion aim to explain the remarkable earthquake resistence of rocking structures . State - of - the -art assessment methods are mostly based on planar models , despite ongoing efforts to understand the significance of three - dimensionality . Impacts are essential components of rocking motion . We present experimental measurement...

A new model is presented for planar multi‐block arches subjected to earthquakes. The blocks are assumed to be rigid, and every interface between the blocks may split open and may close, ie, the blocks may impact to each other. During impact, both the classical Housner's approach and improved models with lower energy dissipation are considered. The...

Design of rigid monolithic columns for overturning cannot be performed with the classical response spectrum analysis. In this paper the responses of rocking blocks for different single and double pulses and real earthquake records are investigated. Based on our numerical and analytical results it is proposed that for real earthquake records the ove...

Presentation of the design method for rocking SDoF systems.

Overturning of rigid blocks on rigid foundations subjected to earthquakes in principle can be analyzed by simple replacement signals. The effect of a signal is generally characterized by its overturning curve. In this paper a new approach is presented, which is based on the overturning acceleration spectra (OAS). It is shown that an earthquake can...

A new model is presented for multiblock columns subjected to earthquakes, which contains an impact and an opening model. Both in the impact and in the opening model, all the possible opening configurations are investigated because it was found that in many practical cases, unexpected patterns may occur. The model is purely mechanical: assuming rigi...

Housner published a simple model for the rocking block more than five decades ago (Housner in Bull Seismol Soc Am 53:403–417, 1963), which is widely used also for modeling stone and masonry columns and arches. In this paper we investigate the reasons of the well-known fact that experiments show lower energy loss during impact than it is predicted b...

This dissertation presents a simple design method to predict the safety of rocking multi-block columns. As the background of the design method Housner’s refined impact model and a new model for multi-block columns subjected to earthquakes, which contains an impact and an opening model are presented. The reasons of the well-known fact that rocking...

The use of laser scanning technology for surveying historical buildings or ruins is gaining widespread popularity. While the “manual” surveying methods are time-consuming and provide just rough guess about the shape of the investigated complex building, the scanning process is very quick and the point cloud contains the “exact” geometry with the de...

A new numerical model is introduced to determine the planar motion of a dry-stone masonry column subjected to base excitation. The model and the numerical calculation were verified by experiments, where the multi-block motion had been recorded by a camera, and captured by image procession. The results of the numerical calculation and the tests are...

In this paper, expressions are developed which enable the designer to determine the load bearing capacity of concentrically loaded RC columns in a very simple manner. The 'reduction factor' (the ratio of the ultimate load of the column and that of the cross-section) is introduced. It is similar to that used for the calculation of steel, masonry and...

Using the geometrical factor of safety, the article compares three ribbed vaults which are different in their structures and complexity. Each vault could have been built for the Nagyvázsony monastery church. The spatial geometry of the three different vaults is based on the rules of control curve construction using the known geometry of the remains...