Paper Title:

International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions

H Keerthi Teja.

The Himalayan region has a rich tradition of vernacular architecture, with building practices that have developed over centuries to withstand frequent seismic activity. Among these, Kath-Kuni and Dhajji-Dewari are notable types of vernacular structures that make use of stone and timber, recognized for their seismic resilience and integration of local materials and construction techniques. The Kath-Kuni system employs dry stones and timber beams arranged in alternating layers, which facilitates efficient load distribution and energy dissipation. On the other hand, Dhajji-Dewari features a robust timber framework, concentrically braced with timber and infilled with rubble stone and mortar. This study explores the seismic performance of these systems using three-dimensional finite element models of walls, subjected to in-plane monotonic loading and validating the results with experimental results. Further, the effect of openings is investigated on the performance of both walls under in-plane monotonic loading. The models developed demonstrate a strong ability to capture the in-plane behaviour of both systems by accurately predicting the lateral load capacity and failure patterns. The research also explored the impact of openings on structural capacity, revealing a more pronounced reduction in Dhajji Dewari walls compared to Kath-Kuni walls.