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Structural and seismic analysis of masonry arch and dome structures
March- October, 2012 the Charles Wallace and Simon Digby Scholarship programme, Department of architecture and civil engineering, UK
It was a funded research project carried out at the university of Bath, UK as part of the Charles Wallace Scholarship Award 2012. I researched on the structural aspects of Indo-Islamic structures comprising of arches, vaults and domes.
The work Involved use of modern software Autodesk Simulation Multiphysics for finite element modelling of complex geometrical structures and also studying structural theories/material properties. The overall aim of this work was to assess the stability of these structures to a sizeable seismic force using a numerical modelling method known as finite element method. The prime work was done for an arch-dome medieval monument called the Alai Darwaza which is located within the Qutub Complex in New Delhi.
During this time, I also studied the construction systems of cathedrals in the UK that are based on arch-vault construction. Additionally, I got the opportunity to understand other methods of structural and material analysis used in flood monitoring, testing of moisture level in building materials and testing strength of materials.
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October 2012- April 2014, partly funded by Indian Council for Historical Research and Travel Grant
Risk assessment of Alai Darwaza and the Qutb Complex
It was a follow up work done after the CWIT scholarship programme for the Alai Darwaza and the Qutub Complex. The results from the software-based analysis were verified with site investigations and history of past damages and repairs to the Alai Darwaza and other monuments within the complex.
Delhi lies in seismic zone 4 which poses a risk to the masonry monuments. The Qutub Minar has been damaged a few times due to earthquake and lightning. Other risks to the minar, Alai Darwaza and other monuments were also identified. The research work was presented at the REHAB 2014, International conference at Tomar, Portugal.
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April 2015-August, 2015 INTACH Research Fellowship
It was a research project on understanding the structural behaviour of arch- dome structures taking the Alai Darwaza as the case study. Detailed measured drawings were prepared and new models with different cross sections were created for structural modelling. The results were correlated with structural theories on the behaviour of arches and domes and examples of failures in various domes structures. The dome of Alai Darwaza was also analyzed using the thrust line method.
