Earthquake resistant construction techniques and materials on Byzantine monuments in Kiev

The study of the behaviour of historic buildings that have suffered from earthquakes has become a valuable tool for the understanding of earthquake resistant construction techniques and materials. Byzantine monuments of the 11–13th century in Kiev have been studied to provide insights into their effective dynamic properties facing severe earthquake history in the area. The recessed brickworks according to the “concealed course” construction technique of the St. Sophia Cathedral (11th century), the Church of St. Michael in the Vydubytskyi Monastery (11th century), the Tithe Church of the Assumption of the Virgin (10th century) and the Cathedral of Assumption of the Virgin (11th century) in the Monastery of the Caves (Pecherskyi monastery) in Kiev were studied and the material properties of bricks and lime mortars with ceramic fill were investigated (mechanical strength tests, mineralogical, chemical and microstructural analysis). The results show major similarities with those of the Byzantine monuments in Istanbul (Theodosian Walls and Hagia Sophia — 6–11th century construction phases), giving evidence of earthquake resistant construction techniques and materials allowing for continuous stresses and strains. Hence, didactics on proper restoration techniques and materials are deduced aiming at their present safety in the face of future earthquakes.