Structural vulnerability of ancient dry masonry towers under lateral loading

•Structural behaviour of ancient dry masonry towers in Anatolia under lateral loadings were identified.•A hypothetical testing process was designed by combining different characteristics from each of the towers.•The towers under high earthquake threat were designed with high staggering ratio, long stone depth or high block ratio. Understanding how the original characteristics contribute to the structural behaviour of antique structures should be the initial stage of planning for conservation work. This study aims to identify the structural behaviour of dry masonry towers under lateral loadings, so that the decision-making process when determining their restoration can be adequately supported. Dry masonry towers in ancient Caria, Pamphylia, and Cilicia Regions are examined. Each of these three areas have very different seismic characteristics. A hypothetical testing process was designed by combining different characteristics from each of the towers. As a result, the characteristics affecting the structural resistance were determined as; the staggering ratio, the stone depth, the ratio between block length and height, the proportional relationship between height and length, the area, number and position of openings, and the distribution of header stones. These characteristics all interact together to determine the failure mechanism; so, understanding this interaction is critical when considering conservation.