The effect of window opening ratio on dome behavior in Ottoman historical masonry buildings

In the present study, the effect of the window opening amount on the dome behavior was investigated experimentally and numerically. A total of three dome test elements were tested under the experimental setup that was prepared for this study to find the maximum horizontal loads and horizontal displacements corresponding to maximum load. The test domes were also analyzed numerically. Since the test results and the analysis results overlapped, an additional parametric study (in which variable drum height and opening amount were taken into account) was performed to examine the behaviors of the opening ratios on the dome with dome models that had different opening ratios (superficial 5 %, 7.5 %, 10 %, and 12.5 % openings). Analyzes were made for each opening ratio with twelve different dome models, one without a drum (pulley) and others with drum heights of 300 mm and 400 mm. The main purpose of this study is to investigate how window opening ratios and drum heights affect the strength and behavior of domes. At the end of the study, the results showed in the most general sense that the effect of the opening ratio on the dome behavior decreases when the height of the drum is increased. In addition, it was determined that as the window opening ratio in domes increases, the load carrying capacity decreases and the horizontal displacement increases.