Structural observations on Macedonian tower, Edirne

MacedonianTower is one of the landmarks of Edirne (Adrianopolis), the city in theTurkish region of East Thrace, close to its borders with Greece and Bulgaria. The structure is originally part of the Roman city fortifications, which is dated back to the 2th century. Recently a restoration project is being developed to repair the structure for beneficial usage, which will offer to the visitors the panoramic vista of city's historic core and its environs. The tower, having Roman origins, is currently a construction about 16m high on a round base, built in stonework masonry with brick bands. Wall thickness ranges from 2.00m at the foundation level to 1.50m at the top. The structure ends with a chamfered square crowning, which is originally remaining part of a later addition from 19th century. The tower is connected on the west side to the surviving parts of the city walls. Due to its good performance against numerous earthquakes, alterations and additions during its long history, it is important to provide engineering information in order to understand both the structure itself as well as its vulnerabilities, as this might be regarded as initial steps to develop efficient proposals if required. This paper presents the preliminary results of the research carried out in this context, including finite element analysis, full-scale ambient vibration testing and modal identification from ambient vibration responses. The geometry of the tower was fully acquired through laser scanning and organized within a CAD system. The positions of the openings and the variations in the thickness of the tower walls were recorded, together with the cracks observed on the surfaces.