Author(s)

E. Karaesmen

Abstract

Structural behaviour of historic masonry domes of major importance: an overview E. Karaesmen Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey ABSTRACT Dome was an essential structural component for all kind of public assembly edifices, from the Pantheon to Sinan's Selimiye. Computer based investigation techniques are applied to conceptualize structural behaviour of such buildings. More systematic approaches were needed, as described in the present text, to study masonry domed historic buildings. INTRODUCTION Social gathering and assembling have constantly been among basic needs of the mankind. Since very early times of the community life, the man searched for the feeling of the existence of others around, by sharing occupations physically and preoccupations pshycologically. Public gardens, agoras and forums existed, besides their daily functionality, also to satisfy this need. The religion generated a new order to shape this need and temples came

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