TY - JFULL AU - Marius Mosoarca and Victor Gioncu and Ovidiu Cosma PY - 2012/4/ TI - Seismic Behaviour of Romanian Ortodox Churches, Modeling of Failure Modes by Rigid Blocks T2 - International Journal of Architectural and Environmental Engineering SP - 236 EP - 244 VL - 6 SN - 1307-6892 UR - https://publications.waset.org/pdf/6583 PU - World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology NX - Open Science Index 63, 2012 N2 - Historic religious buildings located in seismic areas have developed different failure mechanisms. Simulation of failure modes is done with computer programs through a nonlinear dynamic analysis or simplified using the method of failure blocks. Currently there are simulation methodologies of failure modes based on the failure rigid blocks method only for Roman Catholic churches type. Due to differences of shape in plan, elevation and construction systems between Orthodox churches and Catholic churches, for the first time there were initiated researches in the development of this simulation methodology for Orthodox churches. In this article are presented the first results from the researches. The theoretical results were compared with real failure modes recorded at an Orthodox church from Banat region, severely damaged by earthquakes in 1991. Simulated seismic response, using a computer program based on finite element method was confirmed by cracks after earthquakes. The consolidation of the church was made according to these theoretical results, realizing a rigid floor connecting all the failure blocks. ER -