Architectural and structural examination of the Tekirdağ archaeology museum in Türkiye

This paper presents a comprehensive architectural and structural assessment of the Tekirdağ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, a heritage building characterised by a mixed structural system consisting of rubble masonry and reinforced concrete additions. Unlike many previous studies focusing primarily on religious or purely masonry structures, this research investigated a museum building where both structural safety and the protection of cultural artefacts are critically important. The methodology integrated architectural surveys, in situ damage assessment, soil characterisation based on multi-channel analysis of surface waves, material testing and three-dimensional finite-element modelling using Lusas. The results showed that the structure is stable under gravity loads, but seismic analysis revealed tensile stresses exceeding material capacity, indicating a high risk of damage during potential earthquakes. The originality of this study lies in combining field data, geotechnical analysis and numerical modelling within a single framework applied to a museum structure. The findings highlight the necessity of interdisciplinary evaluation approaches and provide practical recommendations for improving seismic performance while preserving heritage value.