Dynamic Characterization of a Reinforcement Rammed Wall for the Earthen Ruins

In recent years, the earthen ruins’ cultural relics have aroused people’s extensive attention, and the protection of them is more and more urgent. The aim of the paper is to present the essential results of an ongoing research on a reinforced rammed earthen wall in the Suoyang ancient city (Guazhou, China). A variety of methods to combining aerial survey, dynamic test, and numerical model is provided with the purpose of estimating the structural characteristics of the ancient rammed wall. An aerial geometric survey based on high-resolution images made by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been approached to acquiring a 3D model. An ambient vibration test has been adopted by using vibration pick-ups. The experimental data were dealt with the operational modal analysis (OMA) followed by comparing with the numerical results delivered by the model. Meanwhile, the results showed the maximum displacements and corresponding positions of the structure under the three modes by the finite element model (FEM).