Investigation of Material and Structural Performance of Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda

Abstract

The Mireuksaji stone pagoda (the only remaining building in Mireuksaji temple) has existed for 1400 years. More than half of the Mireuksaji stone pagoda has collapsed. Due to the historical, cultural, and architectural value of the Mireuksaji stone pagoda, which reflects the style of wooden buildings of that era, it is necessary to evaluate and investigate the cause of collapse for reconstruction and restoration plans and the structural stability of this cultural heritage. For this reason, in the first step, material properties of stones in the pagoda were investigated by taking samples from some of the separated stones that originally constituted the pagoda. Uniaxial and triaxial compressive strength tests, tensile strength tests, and nondestructive tests for the porosity and absorption rate of the stone were carried out. In the next step, three-dimensional numerical analysis software for discontinuous modeling based on the distinct-element method was used to model and analyze the pagoda as accurately as possible. Because the interface between stone blocks is a critical part of the main load-bearing system in the discontinuous structure, some sensitivity analysis was done to consider the effects of structural performance. The analysis also considered different imperfections due to weathering deterioration (material degradation) and irregular shape of remaining stones (surfaces are partially in contact) and their interfaces.