Location
San Diego, California
Presentation Date
29 May 2010, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Abstract
A three-dimensional numerical model has been proposed of the central Rotunda of the catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa with its six supporting rock pillars, excavated in sandy oolitic limestone deposit. The model was based on a 3D realistic simulation of the problem geometry. The required input for the analysis (strength and deformability of the rock materials) was derived from laboratory tests and empirical assessments. The rock mass in general is normally widely jointed (> 1 m). In the analysis it is considered as an un-jointed homogeneous medium with low strength. Where 2D analysis fails to model properly the column behaviour, we use 3D modeling to evaluate the stress state in the supporting rock pillars of the excavated Rotunda, taking into account their 3D arrangement.. The results of the numerical analysis on the central supporting Rotunda show that some surface subsidence was induced during excavation of the catacombs. In particular, the displacement developed at the surface above the Rotunda reaches a maximum of 3 mm. This numerical result corroborates the observed displacements in the underground structures and the surface subsidence. The first part of this paper presents a comprehensive geotechnical survey undertaken in the archaeological site, comprising geophysical ambient noise measurements along with field and short- and long-term laboratory experiments, in order to define the physical, mechanical and dynamic properties of the soils and soft rock materials. The second part presents the main results of the detailed 3D numerical analysis of these underground monuments, using an advanced soil-rock elastoplastic modeling
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Meeting Name
5th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics
Publisher
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 2010 Missouri University of Science and Technology, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Hemeda, Sayed; Pitilakis, Kyriazis; and Bakasis, Elias, "Three-Dimensional Stability Analysis of the Central Rotunda of the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, Alexandria, Egypt" (2010). International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. 13.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icrageesd/05icrageesd/session08/13
Included in
Three-Dimensional Stability Analysis of the Central Rotunda of the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, Alexandria, Egypt
San Diego, California
A three-dimensional numerical model has been proposed of the central Rotunda of the catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa with its six supporting rock pillars, excavated in sandy oolitic limestone deposit. The model was based on a 3D realistic simulation of the problem geometry. The required input for the analysis (strength and deformability of the rock materials) was derived from laboratory tests and empirical assessments. The rock mass in general is normally widely jointed (> 1 m). In the analysis it is considered as an un-jointed homogeneous medium with low strength. Where 2D analysis fails to model properly the column behaviour, we use 3D modeling to evaluate the stress state in the supporting rock pillars of the excavated Rotunda, taking into account their 3D arrangement.. The results of the numerical analysis on the central supporting Rotunda show that some surface subsidence was induced during excavation of the catacombs. In particular, the displacement developed at the surface above the Rotunda reaches a maximum of 3 mm. This numerical result corroborates the observed displacements in the underground structures and the surface subsidence. The first part of this paper presents a comprehensive geotechnical survey undertaken in the archaeological site, comprising geophysical ambient noise measurements along with field and short- and long-term laboratory experiments, in order to define the physical, mechanical and dynamic properties of the soils and soft rock materials. The second part presents the main results of the detailed 3D numerical analysis of these underground monuments, using an advanced soil-rock elastoplastic modeling
