Material Characterization and Seismic Assessment of the Historic Pamukçular Masonry Bridge

Türkiye has many historically rich cities that host structures of significant cultural value. These structures, especially masonry bridges, reflect the construction techniques and materials of the periods in which they were built. However, studies on the origins of these bridges and the structural deteriorations that develop over time are limited. This situation may lead to damage and even the risk of collapse if necessary precautions are not taken. In this study, stone and mortar samples were first collected from the historic Pamukçular (Şifalısu) Bridge in Bitlis, and the collected materials were analyzed. The structural behavior of the bridge under seismic effects was then investigated using the Finite Element Method (FEM). A three-dimensional geometric model of the bridge was created, and material parameters were defined based on values from the material analyses. Static analysis under self-weight and modal analysis were performed in the ABAQUS software (Version 6.14) to obtain the natural frequencies. Under the bridge’s self-weight, local stress concentrations were concentrated at the arch crown and pier-arch connections, with maximum tensile and compressive stresses reaching approximately 0.15 MPa and 0.27 MPa, respectively. These low stress levels demonstrate that the structure remains fully stable under static loading conditions. Finally, dynamic analyses in the time domain were carried out. In these analyses, records from the 2011 Van Earthquake and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake were used to identify the bridge’s critical regions and evaluate its seismic performance. The results indicate that the overall structural stability is adequate; however, local stress concentrations occur in the arch crown and pier connection regions. The study provides engineering-based recommendations for preserving and strengthening historic masonry bridges.