Collapse Prevention Associated with Seismic Retrofit Strategies in Historic Masonry Buildings

Abstract

The preservation of historic masonry buildings poses a significant challenge in earthquake-prone regions, where the dual objectives of safeguarding human life and protecting cultural heritage often require delicate engineering compromises. This paper provides a comprehensive academic assessment of collapse prevention in historic masonry structures, focusing specifically on field evaluation evidence gathered from post-earthquake reconnaissance and structural health monitoring. Unlike contemporary structures governed by standardized codes, historic masonry exhibits highly heterogeneous material properties and complex structural typologies that complicate numerical modeling. Consequently, empirical data derived from field evaluations remains the most reliable indicator of retrofit efficacy. This study systematically categorizes prevalent structural vulnerabilities, outlines advanced methodologies for in-situ data collection, and critically examines a spectrum of seismic retrofit strategies ranging from traditional steel tie rods to modern textile-reinforced mortar applications. By analyzing empirical performance metrics from various field evaluations, the research identifies which intervention techniques successfully mitigate out-of-plane kinematic mechanisms and enhance in-plane shear capacity. The findings underscore the critical importance of ensuring architectural compatibility, material reversibility, and the promotion of global box-like structural behavior. Ultimately, the synthesis of this field evidence provides a robust foundation for refining performance-based design criteria, ensuring that collapse prevention is achieved without compromising the intrinsic historical value of the built environment.