Historic buildings have a high architectural value and their maintenance, repair and rehabilitation require a special approach. This approach is mainly based on the buildings’ performance under non-destructive tests such as operational modal analysis (OMA). Under extreme loads, such as earthquakes, these buildings require representative numerical models to simulate their expected response. In historic buildings, tie rods transfer axial loads and are typically used to balance horizontal trust due to static and dynamic loads associated with seismic actions. It is very important to determine the possibility of exceeding their load-bearing capacity under extreme loads, such as an earthquake. In this context, this paper presents an approach for the analysis of seismic action on the tie rod system in a historic building. The analysis was performed by combining the on-site experimental testing and the finite element model updating (FEMU) of the local models of tie rods and the global model of the structure. It was shown that the combination of analyzing local and global structural models, experimental on-site testing and FEMU is a viable solution for assessment of historic buildings’ load bearing capacity.

Tie rods are structural elements that transfer axial tensile loads and are typically used on walls, vaults, arches, and buttresses in historical buildings. To verify their load-bearing capacity and identify possible structural damage risks, the forces transferred by tie rods and the corresponding stresses must be determined. However, this is often a challenging task due to the lack of project documentation for historical buildings. Uncertainties like complex boundary conditions or unknown material and geometrical properties make it hard to assess the tie rods’ load level. This paper presents a methodology for the determination of axial forces in tie rods that combines on-site experimental research and a numerical model-updating technique. Along with the common approach based on a determination of the natural frequency of tie rods, this paper presents an approach based on tie rods’ mode shapes. Special emphasis is placed on the boundary conditions coefficient, which is a crucial parameter in the analytical solution for axial forces determination based on the conducted on-site experiments. The method is applied in a historical building case study.