Book ChapterDOI
Structural Behaviour of Gopurams in South Indian Temples
S. Sharma,S. Sharma,Arun Menon,Hareesh Haridasan,Shibu Samson +4 more
- pp 929-937
TLDR
In this paper, the structural behavior of the gopuram with a focus on a centuries-old incomplete structure in the town of Thiruvellarai in Tamil Nadu is investigated.Abstract:
The multi-storied masonry “Gopuram” or the ceremonial entrance gateway, an ubiquitous structure in a South Indian temple, was a feature introduced circa 14th c. AD in order to confer architectural status to structurally insignificant ancient shrines. The gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai (1600 AD), the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam (17th c. AD) and the Ekambareswar Temple in Kancheepuram (16th c. AD), 52 m, 72 m and 59 m tall, respectively, are representative of the highly evolved Dravidian temple architecture. The current research is an attempt to understand the structural behaviour of the gopuram with a focus on a centuries-old incomplete structure in the town of Thiruvellarai in Tamil Nadu. The paper presents outcomes of detailed field and laboratory investigations on the sub-structure, the superstructure and structural materials of the gopuram, that provide insight into the structural configuration of the gopuram. It then examines the structural response to gravity and lateral forces, through non-linear finite element models of the structure. One of the significant aspects studied is the role of the core masonry in the structural response of the multi-leaf masonry structure of the gopuram. In addition the role of floor diaphragms in the structural stability of the gopuram is investigated. The outcome of the study is expected to provide important insights to the reasons for structural distress and collapse of such structures, particularly the Vijayagopuram at Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh in South India that collapsed in May 2010.read more
Citations
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Book ChapterDOI
Finite Element Analysis of Ancient Thousand Pillar Temple in Southern India.
Soma Shekhar Reddy,Sai Arjun Chevitipalli,Venkata Dilip Kumar Pasupuleti,Prafulla Kalapatapu +3 more
TL;DR: In this paper, a thousand pillar temple built during the 12th century AD in Hanamakonda, Telangana State has been considered and a complete three-dimensional finite element numerical model is developed considering all the complex geometries, different types of columns, and mandapas to form the integrated temple model.
Journal ArticleDOI
Temple as place: the pathars and their devasthanam as a unit of analysis
TL;DR: In this article , an ethnographic study of the Arulmigu Kamatchi Amman Devasthanam in Penang, Malaysia is presented, where the primary data comes from ethnographic studies that involve participant observation and spatial study, and secondary data drawn from document and photo reviews alongside the writings of pioneering Indian art historians.
Journal ArticleDOI
Madras Terrace Construction: Seismic Upgrade of a Historic Composite Floor Slab System
TL;DR: In this paper , a full-scale experimental model is built and the specimen is upgraded using post-installed anchors to ensure integral action between different components without any changes to materials in the as-built configuration.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Structural Analysis of Masonry Historical Constructions. Classical and Advanced Approaches
TL;DR: A review of methods applicable to the study of masonry historical construction, encompassing both classical and advanced ones, is presented in this paper, where the main available strategies, including limit analysis, simplified methods, FEM macro- or micro-modeling and discrete element methods (DEM), are considered with regard to their realism, computer efficiency, data availability and real applicability to large structures.
Book ChapterDOI
Masonry behaviour and modelling
TL;DR: This Chapter introduces simple and refined models for masonry, based on the assumption that the material is incapable of sustaining tensile loads and the microscopic structure of masonry.
Journal ArticleDOI
Modelling and analysis of South Indian temple structures under earthquake loading
TL;DR: In this paper, a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of the archaeological site of Kancheepuram, South India, is presented, where the seismic input is based on the seismic hazard assessment of a typical 9-tier gopuram and a 16-pillared mandapam.