Historic bridges are invaluable cultural landmarks that embody the architectural and engineering achievements of past civilizations. Preserving these structures, which are often vulnerable to seismic activity, is essential to safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations. This study examines the Bat & imath;ayaz Bridge, which sustained significant damage in the February 8, 2023, Kahramanmaras,earthquakes. Originally, iron connectors were used between stones in the arch of the bridge. This research investigates the potential of using FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) connectors as an alternative to iron for enhancing the seismic resilience of the arch. The bridge was reinforced with both FRP-metal clamps and dowel connectors, enabling a comparison of its seismic performance under each configuration. The connectors were carefully installed between stones with specialized adhesives and Khorasan mortar. Reinforced stone elements then underwent compressive and tensile testing, yielding essential data on the connectors' normal and shear stiffness, as well as the mechanical properties of the Khorasan mortar. A three-dimensional model of the bridge was created in FLAC3D software using the finite difference method. Individual stone elements were modeled with brick and wedge components, incorporating experimentally derived stiffness values. The Mohr-Coulomb material model was applied to both the stone elements and the foundation soil, with non-reflecting boundary conditions set at the model's edges. Ten different ground motion simulations were conducted to assess seismic behavior. The seismic analyses for the two models, with FRP and metal connectors in the arch, indicated that both types significantly improved the bridge's seismic resistance. Results revealed that the use of FRP and iron mechanical connectors in the arch substantially modified the bridge's seismic response compared to the configuration without connectors. Besides, no major differences were observed between FRP and iron connectors in terms of enhancing seismic resilience of the bridge. The findings suggest that corrosion-resistant FRP connectors provide a durable alternative to metal connectors, which are prone to degradation over time. Thus, FRP connectors represent a promising option for the long-term seismic strengthening and restoration of historic bridges.

Aleppo, one of the oldest inhabited world heritage cities in the world, was struck by a destructive earthquake on February 06, 2023. Its iconic citadel built on a historical hill and surrounded by a protective moat, was severely damaged. However, the main entrance tower and the massive arched masonry bridge composed of an inclined deck and a series of unequal pillars height, constructed over the moat, survived the earthquake with minor apparent damages. In the light of a damage identification purpose, characterization of dynamic properties, and a health monitoring plan, an experimental dynamic identification campaignwas conducted on the historic structure, and sonic testingwas undertaken on the bridge pillars. The in-plan and out-of-plan mode shapes were clearly identified under ambient vibrations, in addition to the monument's natural frequencies. The dynamic parameters were estimated via the commercial software ARTeMIS using the EFDD method. Knowing that no data was available on the foundations and the soil conditions, the in-plane deformation modes provided qualitative information about the soil stiffness under the main pillars. Additionally, it was possible to correlate the damage state of the tower to a certain number of bending and torsional modes. The experimental results allowed the calibration of a numerical modal analysis elaborated on a 3D FE model, for a better assessment of the seismic capacity of the monument. The obtained dynamic parameters are to be compared to the monument response during and after a future structural rehabilitation for efficient monitoring of the structural intervention.