Masonry, as one of the oldest construction techniques, has been used in historical sites. Assessment of structural performance under seismic effects is a very important step for restoration process of historic buildings that represent construction techniques and material characteristics of their era. Following a methodology that includes research, diagnostics, safety analysis and the determination of effective reinforcement intervention techniques must be done in respect of the historical values and the original conception of the building.
Often, the application of the same levels of safety used in the analysis of new buildings requires very serious structural interventions that are almost impossible from the point of view of compatibility with historical architectural values. In these cases, the methodologies of structural intervention in buildings with historical values justify different or lower levels of safety compared to new buildings.
The complexity of the geometry of these objects, the often-unforeseen characteristics of the original materials used, the different construction techniques, the lack of complete knowledge of existing damages that have occurred over time for various reasons, and the current lack of applicable codes complicate the restoration process. Also, the limitations in inspecting or taking samples in buildings with historical value, often results in relatively limited information on the characteristics of the existing materials used.
The philosophy of structural restoration is: meeting the criteria for minimal intervention in compatibility with the original structure to achieve maximum performance.
The most innovative reinforcement techniques include post-tensioning and special anti-seismic devices that reduce the action of seismic loads on the structure.
