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Reliable estimation of seismic stability of structures built in seismically active regions is an objective that requires a complex investigation and different types of activities. For historical structures and monuments, this requirement is even more essential, because many of them represent unique heritage structures. In- situ testing of a monument for defining dynamic characteristics and seismic testing of scaled models represent the recommended activities to be considered as mandatory. Shake table testing of a scaled monument model provides valuable information about its seismic stability – weak parts and development of failure mechanism – as well as the crucial points of the structure that should be considered when designing the health monitoring system. This paper presents the results obtained by the shake table testing of scaled models of two historical masonry structures: the Old Bridge in Mostar and the ancient Protiron structure in Split. The monitored seismic response presented herein by the measured accelerations, relative and absolute displacements, and strains, as well as the damage identification during the shake table tests, provided essential information about their seismic stability, failure mechanism, and weak points. The obtained results have been used for verification of the analytical models for these two monuments, while the prospective of the conclusions derived from the tests has a possible implementation in planning their health monitoring system.

Masonry stone arch, and other types of masonry structures, owed their durability through the centuries primarily to the inventiveness of the builders, who, by introducing new connection elements, managed to build structures that would resist various effects through the time. Connection elements used for assembling bridge vaults, or clamps and dowels made of wrought iron with the additional use of liquid lead and mortar, are one of the successful ways to increase stability and load-bearing capacity of this type of structures. A similar assembly technique was applied during construction of the original Old Bridge in Mostar in 1566 and its reconstruction in 2004. This paper presents experimental tests performed on 1:3 scaled arch segments of the Old Bridge in Mostar and obtained results. This experimental research was conducted in order to describe the behaviour of all connection elements participating in the transfer of loads that can occur. Obtained results of the performed experimental tests are highly utilisable for further numerical analyses and verification of the existing and new mathematical models.

Zidani lučni mostovi zbog svojega karakterističnog izgleda i kompleksnosti materijala od kojih su građeni i danas su predmet eksperimentalnih i numeričkih analiza. Jedan od istaknutih primjera ovog tipa konstrukcija jeste i Stari most u Mostaru, koji je, zajedno s lokalitetom mosta, pod zaštitom UNESCO od 2005. godine. Upravo je ovaj simbol grada na Neretvi odabran kao osnova za analizu ponašanja zidanih lučnih mostova i njihovih elemenata. Kroz rad će biti prikazani rezultati kvazistatičkih ispitivanja elemenata veze provedenih na modelima segmenata svoda Starog mosta u razmjeri 1:3 kao i rezultati ispitivanja ponašanja fizičkog modela Starog mosta skaliranog u razmjeri 1:9 ispitivanog na seizmičkoj platformi za različite nivoe seizmičke pobude. Modeli su izgrađeni s realnom aplikacijom veza između kamenih elemenata - klamfe, trnovi i tekuće olovo. Utvrđivanje kapaciteta nosivosti i načina popuštanja elemenata veza ispitivanih segmenata te određivanje mehanizma loma modela mosta osnovne su zadaće provedenih eksperimentalnih istraživanja., Due to their characteristic appearance and complexity of materials used for their construction, masonry arch bridges are still the subject of experimental and numerical analyses. One of the characteristic examples of this type of structures is the Old Bridge in Mostar that, along with the bridge location, has been under UNESCO protection since 2005. It is exactly this symbol of the town residing on the Neretva River that has been selected as the basis for analysis of behavior of masonry arch bridges and their structural elements. This paper will present the results of the quasi-static tests on connection elements carried out on models of arch segments of the Old Bridge at the scale of 1: 3 as well as the results of the shaking table tests of the behavior of the physical model of the Old Bridge scaled to 1:9 under different levels of seismic excitation. The models were built by application of real connection elements between stone elements – cramps, dowels and liquid lead. Definition of bearing capacity and mode of deterioration of the connection elements of the tested segments as well as definition of the failure mechanisms of the bridge model are the main tasks of the performed experimental investigations.