Seismic Response and Vulnerability Assessment of a Rammed-Earth Structure Using the 2023 El Haouz Earthquake Record

Historical earthen structures constitute a significant part of cultural heritage, as they express local building knowledge and the sustainable use of natural materials. Nevertheless, their seismic performance remains a major concern, because rammed earth is characterized by low tensile strength, limited ductility, and brittle behaviour when subjected to dynamic loading. Evaluating their response under earthquake records is therefore necessary for understanding their vulnerability and supporting conservation strategies.

This work investigates the seismic vulnerability of a historical rammed earth structure through dynamic time history analysis, using the 2023 El Haouz earthquake as input motion. A three-dimensional numerical model was established by considering the structural geometry, material properties, mass distribution, and boundary conditions. Modal analysis was first performed to determine the main dynamic characteristics of the structure, including natural periods, frequencies, and mode shapes. Afterwards, the El Haouz acceleration record was applied to assess the structural response under seismic excitation.

The results were examined in terms of maximum displacement, inter-story drift, acceleration response, and stress distribution. These parameters provide insight into the dynamic behaviour of the structure and help identify the zones that are more sensitive to seismic demand, which may guide future diagnostic work and targeted practical strengthening and monitoring decisions.