Retrofitting Masonry Buildings Boosts Structural Safety and Saves Lives!
The article investigates the behavior of different types of masonry buildings through full-scale tests. The researchers conducted six tests on various masonry systems, including unreinforced, reinforced, and confined masonry. They found that the structural behavior factor mentioned in building codes is suitable for unreinforced and reinforced masonry, but can be relaxed for confined masonry. Additionally, they observed a significant increase in structural behavior factor for repaired and retrofitted masonry structures, showing that retrofitting measures are effective in improving structural adequacy.