XVIII ЮБИЛЕЙНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ ПО

СТРОИТЕЛСТВО И АРХИТЕКТУРА ВСУ’2018

XVII ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE BY
CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE VSU'2018

EXISTING MASONRY BUILDINGS: CONDITION, REQUIRED

INTERVENTIONS AND REGULATIONS

Jelena Savić1, Danijela Đurić Mijović2, Danijela Milanović3

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Niš, Serbia

Abstract: According to the available data, the architectonic heritage is mostly

composed of housing structures, which are 80-90% masonry buildings. Many of them
were built by the beginning of the previous century, so the experience acquired in the
service of masonry structures demonstrates that with an appropriate maintenance,
they can have satisfactory safety and durability levels. The period when buildings
were constructed is very important because it can be determined which regulations
were in force at the time in seismically active areas.
Technical regulations related to the masonry buildings (Eurocode 6 and Eurocode
8) nowadays analyze the structure, materials, ground on which the buildings are
constructed and other important elements in a much more detailed way. Masonry
structures, in relation to the others, are more susceptible to high damage, primarily
because of the large mass and brittle walls. This paper will present a condition in
which the existing masonry buildings are most often found, as well as a review of
necessary interventions on the buildings, originating from the prescribed regulations
related to masonry buildings.
Key words: Masonry buildings, condition of a structure, damage, necessary
interventions, standing regulations

1. Introduction
The concept of existing buildings comprises all the buildings constructed without
using any regulations related to aseismic designing. Those are buildings where
considerable damage can be expected in case of earthquakes or any other dynamic impact.
Most frequently it is the masonry buildings which belong to the category of existing
buildings constructed in the past in a traditional way. The masonry buildings are more
susceptible to severe damage than other types of structures, primarily because of the great
mass and brittle walls. Since we are situate in an area of considerable seismic activity, it is
very important to implement appropriate technical measures and methods to make the
existing masonry building meet satisfactory levels of safety and durability. Impaired safety
and stability of buildings, as well as the impaired dwelling quality lead to numerous new
problems of technical, urban, social, economic and legal, nature which give rise to a need
1
Jelena Savić, PhD, Teaching and Reasearch Assistant, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14, Niš,
[email protected],
2
Danijela Đurić Mijović, PhD, Teaching and Reasearch Assistant, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14, Niš,
[email protected],
3
Danijela Milanović, PhD Student, Teaching and Reasearch Assistant, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14, Niš,
[email protected].
 XVIII ЮБИЛЕЙНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ ПО
СТРОИТЕЛСТВО И АРХИТЕКТУРА ВСУ’2018
XVII ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE BY
CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE VSU'2018

for a process of renewal and improvement of housing buildings and areas where they are
situated. Investments in maintenance and revitalization of the existing buildings in
developed European countries are nowadays higher than investment in new structures [1].
For that reason a complex understanding of the problems pertaining to the status
assessment and selection of optimal methods for strengthening and remediation of
structures is necessary.

2. Residential building damage, their causes and classifications

For the successful implementation of the remediation and strengthening methods, it
is primarily necessary to studiously analyze the condition of the structure and determine
the causes that led to occurrence of damage. There are many causes of damage and they
can create problems, both during construction and in the building service phase. For that
reason, detailed classifications of damage of building elements and their causes are
provided, depending on the how they are manifested, rate and time of their emergence,
their severity, propagation etc. [1]. The damage which is most easily observable on the
buildings are cracks and lines caused by exceeding the strength of the basic material or
binders to tension, pressure or shear (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Emergence of cracks in the walls caused by various impacts [7]

In terms of severity, visible damage on the walls can be classified in several

categories depending on the size of the damage, extent and difficulty of remediation works.
The most frequent damage occurs due to settling ground, because it is a normal
phenomenon for all soil types, except bedrock. Even settlement is not detrimental, if it is
within permissible limits. Irregular settling, irrespective of its size represents a danger for
the building stability and they cause cracks and fissures on the walls and other structural
elements. All kinds of extension or conversions cause overloading of buildings, which
causes subsequent settling.
The second large damage group is that caused by the deficiencies of the structural
system of buildings and of the construction system and technology. The cracks and fissures
damage is characteristic also for the buildings without extension joints and of the buildings
with unconnected foundations and unstiffened and unconnected walls.
One of the least favorable factors in terms of their influence on the structures is
water which can occur in various forms (ground, precipitation, free, running, still) and in
all phases. Water impact on the building foundations is particularly adverse because it
leads to disruption of soil structure, reduction of its bearing capacity and it also
aggressively affects the foundations material, in the cases when it contains aggressive
ingredients. Capillary rise of water through foundations and foundations walls may
progress to the walls where it causes damage of surface finish or of the elements made of
wood and metal (Fig. 2).
 XVIII ЮБИЛЕЙНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ ПО
СТРОИТЕЛСТВО И АРХИТЕКТУРА ВСУ’2018
XVII ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE BY
CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE VSU'2018

Fig. 2. Damage due to the capillary rise of water [7]

Building facades are directly exposed to weather and temperature variations, and
decorated and adorned facades with prominent cornices and details around the openings
are particularly vulnerable. Poorly engineered drainage of precipitation water creates very
displeasing sights of facades and flat roofs (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Building façade damage [7]

Earthquakes belong to the external factors causing building damage, and they
cannot be predicted. Depending on their intensity, that damage can range between
negligible to devastating. As for the buildings of residential – masonry buildings, there is
considerably more severe damage on the buildings with extensions, resulting from the lack
of knowledge or non-adherence to the basic rules of designing and building of seismically
resistant structures, and on the ground floors where the shear load impact is the highest.

3. Technical regulations in the area of masonry buildings

A new concept of structural design based on the limit states of bearing capacity
(ultimate limit state) and of serviceability, that has been developed in the last decades, is
officially implemented in the European designing practice as a set of standards known as
Eurocodes. In our designing practice, Eurocodes have been increasingly used, although
they still are not our official documents.
Eurocode 6 – Designing of wall structures contains Part 1-1- General rules for
reinforced and non-reinforced masonry structures [2]. Part 1-1 of Eurocode 6 provides a
basis for design of buildings and other building structures made from reinforced and non-
reinforced walls where reinforcement is used to provide a required level of ductility,
bearing capacity and serviceability. Part 1-1 begins with a general section where scope of
application, basic terms, definitions, wall types and symbols are listed, followed by a
section on the fundamentals of design according to the principles of limit state of bearing
capacity and serviceability. The third section refers to the materials occurring in a masonry
structure system (masonry elements, mortar, concrete and reinforcement steel), their
properties and mechanical and deformation properties of a masonry structure. Then follow
the sections related to the durability of a masonry structures, structure analysis, reinforced
masonry structures, masonry structures with ring beams and finally structural formation
and works execution.
 XVIII ЮБИЛЕЙНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ ПО
СТРОИТЕЛСТВО И АРХИТЕКТУРА ВСУ’2018
XVII ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE BY
CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE VSU'2018

Eurocode 8 – Design of seismically resistant structures [3], contains two sections

relating to buildings:
– Section 1 – General rules, seismic action and rules for buildings [3],
– Section 3 – Status assessment and strengthening of masonry buildings [4].
In Eurocode 6, as previously mentioned, there are general rules for designing of no-
reinforced and reinforced masonry buildings, while in Eurocode 8, additional rules are
stated which need to be taken into account when designing masonry structures in seismic
areas. Design by Eurocode 8 is based on two basic requirements during action of the
expected earthquake: no-collapse requirement and limited structural damage requirement.
Section 1 contains two special subsections which relate to the buildings, those bing
Building designing and Special rules for masonry buildings. Section 3 relates to the status
assessment of individual buildings for the purpose of making decisions about the necessary
interventions in the structure and undertaking strengthening measures for the case of
seismic action.
Most countries work on enacting new or innovating the existing technical regulations
in field of remediation and strengthening of engineering structures and especially of
buildings, assessment of their status and maintenance. Especially important is the process
of harmonizing of regulations of individual countries, as it the case with Eurocodes..
Applied Technology Council of USA together with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, especially in the situations after earthquake has a very developed
activity in enacting and publishing of numerous instructions, manuals and pre-standards
The most used are the following pre-standards:
– FEMA 273, 1997. Recommendations for seismic renovation: A step before
verification,
– FEMA 356, 2000. Seismic renovation of buildings
– FEMA 440, 2005. Improvement of non-linear static-seismic analysis.

4. Structural measures of remediation and strengthening of masonry structures

Selection of the methods of remediation, reconstruction and strengthening of
masonry structures depend on a number of factors, that refer to: seismic location zone, type
and level of damage, available equipment for the works, required safety level and time
available for intervention [5], [6].
In order to form a systemic approach in review, selection and application of
appropriate structural measures, the bearing structure of the building is classified in three
categories and consequently measures for remediation and strengthening. Basic bearing
structure of a buildings can be observed, according to [7], as divided into: foundations,
superstructure and roof structures.
Nowadays, there is a large number of methods for interventions directly on the
foundations, base ground under or around the foundations or a combination of the base
ground and foundations. Depending on the causes leading to the damage both on the
foundations and superstructure, the remediation methods can be classified as:
 Methods of strengthening the base soil under the foundations,
 Traditional methods of remediation and strengthening of foundations,
 Strengthening of foundations by deepening,
 Strengthening of foundations using piles,
 Strengthening of foundations using piles in combination with other structural
elements.
Only after the foundation structure is remediated and strengthened using some of
these methods, further interventions on the superstructure can be undertaken.
 XVIII ЮБИЛЕЙНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ ПО
СТРОИТЕЛСТВО И АРХИТЕКТУРА ВСУ’2018
XVII ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE BY
CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE VSU'2018

In the further analysis of superstructure, all the elements constituting the integral part
of a wall bearing structure are considered. Regarding that a large number of methods for
remediation and strengthening are available, the type and quality of the built-in material, as
well as type and arrangement of structural elements are leading criteria in selection of
appropriate and optimal ones. In the following Table 1 is provided review of mostly
utilized methods in practice.
Table 1. Methods of interventions on the walls
Crack repair
Replacement of mortar in wall joints
TRADITIONAL

Addition of reinforcement
METHODES

Usage of strengthened cement coatings on one or both sides of the wall

Wall strengthening using shotcreting
Wall grouting
Wall pre-stressing in vertical or horizontal directions
Reconstruction of individual parts of the wall
Steel ring system
CONTEMPOR

METODES

Wrapping in FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) strips

ARY

Usage of strips, rods, meshes and fabrics based on FRP (Fiber

Reinforced Polymer) for wall strengthening
Application of mortar strengthened using GFRP mesh

In reinforced concrete structures, the damage most frequently manifest by onset of

cracks and fissures, crumbling and falling off of concrete, buckling or breaking of
reinforcement rods. Floor structure damage indicate their vulnerability to all events in the
structure because they are linked to other structural elements. Strengthening of reinforced
concrete structures can be accomplished by increasing the cross section by adding concrete
and new reinforcement over the damaged element (Fig. 4).

Fig.4. Remediation of severe damage of RC columns and slabs with additional

reinforcing [1]

Nowadays, strengthening of reinforced concrete structure using carbon strips and

laminates is a common instance [7]. The procedure comprises to chase cut all the damaged
– worn out parts of concrete out, to reach a completely undamaged concrete and
reinforcement. On the precisely defined locations, carbon strips are glue over a layer of
epoxy glue.
The roof structure remediation measures depend primarily on the structure, inclined
or flat roof, and on the severity of damage. Structural measures which can be used on the
 XVIII ЮБИЛЕЙНА МЕЖДУНАРОДНА НАУЧНА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЯ ПО
СТРОИТЕЛСТВО И АРХИТЕКТУРА ВСУ’2018
XVII ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE BY
CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE VSU'2018

damaged flat roofs to protect the buildings, provided that the bearing structure of the
building has a necessary bearing capacity and stability, are:
 Repair and remediation of damaged and dilapidated layers of the flat roof,
 Flat roof construction.
In case of wooden roof structures, the remediation and strengthening methods boil
down to usage of modern connectors and materials, such as bolts with plates, dowels,
epoxy glues and other materials.

Conclusion
The necessity to remediate and strengthen the existing housing building stems from
the aspiration to protect and preserve the buildings, extend their service life, improve
housing level and ensure safety and security.
At the beginning of the complex process of renovation and remediation of building
structures is analysis of damage causes. Analysis of damage causes requires good
knowledge of geotechnical problems, engineering, materials, building technology,
architecture and calls for involvement of professionals and specialists of the mentioned
areas, so as to recognize the damage causes and remove them using appropriate methods.
One of the most important conditions, regarding extended service life of buildings
and provision of its safety and integrity is implementation of standing technical
regulations. For renovation and strengthening of the existing masonry buildings, especially
important are Eurocode 6 and Eurocode 8 - Section 3. Also very topical nowadays are the
recommendations of FEMA in the USA, whose instructions and pre-standards are used in
comparative analysis and calculations proposed by the European norms, i.e. Eurocodes.
When, in this complex renovation process the remediation stage is reached, the
selection of optimal solutions must be based on the acquired knowledge and conclusiosn of
behavior of the structure within conducted static or dynamic analyses, from which is
inferred necessary stiffness, strength and size of structural deformations in accordance with
the planned use of the building.
Considering the specific and complex character of the works, expensive materials
and usage of special technology, the issue must be considered from the economic aspect as
well.

REFERENCES
[1] Kurtović-Folić, N., Folić, R.: "Stare zgrade – karakteristična oštećenja i njihovi
uzorci", GraĎevinar 38, br. 4, Zagreb, 1986, str. 153-168.
[2] EC 6 - Projektovanje zidanih konstrukcija-deo1-1: Opšta pravila za armirane i
nearmirane zidane konstrukcije, SRPS EN 1996-1-1:2005
[3] EC 8 - Proračun seizmički otpornih konstrukcija - Deo 1: Opšta pravila, seizmička
dejstva i pravila za zgrade, EN 1998-1:2004
[4] EC 8 - Proračun seizmički otpornih konstrukcija - Deo 3: Ocena stanja i ojačanje
postojećih zgrada, EN 1998-3:2005
[5] Čaušević A., Rustempašić N.: “Rekonstrukcije zidanih objekata visokogradnje”,
Univerzitet u Sarajevu, Arhitektonski fakultet, 2014.
[6] Tomaževič, M.: "Earthquake - Resistant Design of Masonry Buildings", Series on
Innovation in Structures and Construction - Vol. 1, Imperial College Press., 1999.
[7] Savić, J.: „Revitalizacija stambenih zgrada zgrada u konstruktivnom kontekstu“,
Doktorska teza, Univerzitet u Nišu, GraĎevinsko-arhitektonski fakultet, 2016, str.190.