Retrofitting of Heritage and Historical Buildings

The definition of historic and heritage structures may vary from country to country
and from culture to culture. But the need for the existence of these assets of historic
values is nowhere denied rather they are worth preserving. The design, construction
and the materials used for these structures are often drastically different to survive
against the threat of present days hazard. The technique that is used to make the life
of the structures longer is called retrofitting. It is used as a general term consists of a
variety of treatments: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction. It is
not that retrofitting is done in case of the structures of historic importance only. But in
such cases the technique of retrofitting is lot more challenging with many restrictions
imposed. Retrofitting of the historic structures generally involve an array of diverse
technical considerations such as fire safety, remedies against weathering and water
infiltration, chemical attack, geotechnical hazards, structural performance under
earthquake and wind loads etc. In this paper different retrofitting techniques
adoptable for historic buildings are discussed with a focus to Indian context.

Introduction:
Retrofitting the general term in broader sense means preservation which is the
process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity and
materials of a historic structure. Rehabilitation refers to the process of creating new
application for a structure through repair, additions and alterations while preserving
those features which convey its historical, cultural or architectural values. Restoration
is the process of accurately restoring a structure as of existed at a particular period of
time. Reconstruction is described as the act of replicating a structure at a specific
period of time. Having said that, retrofit specially aims to enhance the structural
capacities (strength, stiffness, ductility, stability and integrity) of a structure that is
suspected to be deficient or vulnerable. In the specific context of enhancing the
resistance of a vulnerable structure to earthquake the term seismic retrofit is used.
The building need not be deteriorated or damaged, seismic retrofit is intended to
mitigate the effect of a future earthquake.
The principal difference between a heritage structure and a regular or traditional
structure is that a retrofitting technique cannot indiscriminately be applied with the
sole aim of improving structural response to earthquakes and other components in
case of a historic structure. Application of techniques and materials should be
chosen very cautiously and judiciously so that the authenticity and heritage value of
the structure in its entirety is maintained.

Basic principles of retrofitting of structures of historic and heritage

importance:
Structures of heritage and historic importance present a number of challenges in
restoration and retrofit which limit the application of codes and building standards of
modern times. However, recommendations and guidelines are necessary to enable
rational methods of analysis and restoration work fitting to the cultural context. Thus,
some relevant recommendations of International Council on Monuments and Sites
(ICOMOS) are listed below:

ICOMOS, 1964:
1. The restoration of monuments must have recourse to all the techniques which
can contribute to the safeguarding of the architectural heritage. (Article 2)
2. The intention in conserving and restoring monuments is to safeguard them no
less as works of art, than as historical evidence. (Article 3)
3. The aim of restoration is to preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historical
value of the monument and is based on the respect for original material and
authentic documents. (Article 9)
4. Where traditional techniques prove inadequate, the restoration of a monument
can be achieved by the use of any modern techniques of construction, the
efficacy of which has been shown by scientific data and proved by experience.
(Article 10)
5. The valid contributions of all periods to the building of a monument must be
respected, since unity of style is not the aim of a restoration. When a building
includes the superimposed work of different periods, the revealing of the
underlying state can only be justified in exceptional circumstances. (Article 11)
6. Replacements of missing parts must integrate harmoniously with the whole,
but at the same time must be distinguishable from the original, so that the
restoration does not falsify the artistic or historical evidence. (Article 12)
7. In all works of preservation or restoration, there should always be precise
documentation, illustrated with drawings and photographs. Every stage of the
work of clearing, rearrangement and integration, as well as technical and
formal features identified during the course of the work, should be included.
(Article 16)

ICOMOS, 2003:
1. The removal of the inner structures maintaining only the faades does not fit
the conservation criteria. (Article 1.3)

2. No action should be undertaken without having ascertained the achievable

benefit and harm to the architectural heritage, except in cases where urgent
safeguard measures are necessary to avoid the imminent collapse of the
structures (for example, after seismic damages). Those urgent measures,
however, should not be irreversible. (Article 1.7)
3. Therapy should address root causes rather than symptoms. (Article 3.1)
4. Safety evaluation and an understanding of the significance of the structure
should be the basis for conservation and reinforcement measures. (Article
3.3)
5. The choice between traditional and innovative techniques should be
weighed up on a case-by-case basis and preference given to those that are
least invasive and most compatible with heritage values. (Article 3.7)
6. At times the difficulty of evaluating the real safety levels and the possible
benefits of interventions may suggest an observational method, that is an
incremental approach, starting from a minimum level of intervention. (Article
3.8)
7. Where possible, any measures adopted should be reversible so that they
can be removed and replaced with more suitable measures when new
knowledge

is

acquired.

Where

they

are

not

completely

reversible,

interventions should not limit further interventions. (Article 3.9)

Degrees of Intervention:
Strengthening of historical building is a difficult compromise between requirements of
structural theories and conservation principles. Intervention should be reversible to
give room to incorporate better solutions with technologies to come in future. That
way, intervention must be as much as necessary, but as little as possible.
Temporary interventions must be carried out to prevent Catastrophic Collapse if such
situation occurs. Before the final retrofit procedure is tested and arrived at, safety
against collapse such as during the post-earthquake investigation may be ensured
by temporary interventions.
For a monumental building, eight degrees of interventions in the ascending order of
intrusion are possible:
(i) Prevention of deterioration
(ii) Preservation of existing state

(iii) Consolidation of the fabric

(iv) Restoration
(v) Rehabilitation
(vi) Reproduction
(vii) Reconstruction
(viii) Translocation

Condition Assessment:
1. Non-destructive Tests: Estimation of the expected strength of existing structural
members requires the evaluation of the strengths of various materials in place, the
actual dimensions of the members, and an extensive knowledge of the presence of
cracks, cavities, open joints and other defects or discontinuities. Intrusive testing may
in most cases be prohibitive not only due to possible architectural damages, but also
due to risk of local collapse in critical regions of the structure that may trigger global
instability. Therefore, non-destructive tests come forth as appropriate tools. A few
non-destructive and partially intrusive techniques suitable for historical structures are
listed.

Thermal method (infrared thermography)

RADAR technique
Ultrasonic pulse velocity test
Ambient vibration test
Endoscopy

2. Intrusive tests: Normally, in the case of heritage structures, intrusive testing

procedures may not be permissible. If indispensable and if permissible, the choice of
the technique should guarantee minimal intervention. On the other hand, fairly large
specimens from debris of a structural collapse may well be used to perform
destructive tests. The different tests are listed.

Core test
In-situ shear test
Bond-wrench test
Test of masonry prisms

3. Numerical Techniques: Numerical modelling is important for understanding

the behavior of the structure. Constraints for advanced modelling are the cost, the

need for experienced engineers, the level of accuracy required and the availability of
input. The need for validation of the model and results against in- situ observations is
a key issue without which the results of a complex analysis may be rendered
useless. Non-linear analysis is the most powerful method, capable of tracing the
complete response from the elastic range, through cracking and crushing up to
complete failure. Simplified modelling such as limit analysis using kinematic methods
could be a useful too. General recommendations in the numerical modelling of
historical structures are as follows.

It is better to model structural parts than complete structures.

Do not use full-structure three-dimensional modelling unless it is necessary.
Avoid using linear elastic calculations for historical structures.

Elements of Retrofitting (Strengthening):

Retrofitting means providing something with a component or feature not fitted during
manufacture or adding something that it did not have when first constructed.
Retrofitting of structures can be classified on the basis of their shape, loading etc.
Some of the techniques applied on elements like Masonry walls, Arches, Vaults,
Domes, Towers, Spires are discussed here. Further, Reduction of Seismic Effects
and Strengthening of Soils and Foundations will be discussed in the subsequent
sections.
1. Strengthening of Masonry Walls: Various techniques are available for
strengthening different types of masonry walls. The type and quality of the masonry
material and the structural integrity of the building are the main criteria to be
considered when choosing the method of strengthening.
1.1 Repair of Cracks: The cracks can be repaired grout injection. In case of
excessively damaged walls, in addition to grout injection, the area around the cracks
can be coated with a cement concrete coating reinforced with a wire mesh. The
following table provides recommendations for various crack widths.
1.2 Repointing of Bed-joints: The resistance of a wall to lateral and vertical loads
can be considerably improved by replacing parts of the existing deteriorated mortar
in bed-joints with mortar of better quality. This is applicable where bed-joints are
level, the mortar is of poor quality and the masonry units are good.
As shown in Figure, existing mortar up to one third of the walls thickness is removed
from the joints on one or both sides of the wall using clamps or electric chippers. To
maintain vertical stability of the wall, repointing is completed on one side and then

the other side is repointed. Once the existing mortar has been removed, the surface
of the bed-joint is cleaned thoroughly and moistened with a water jet. The procedure
of repointing is repeated on the other side of the wall once the fresh mortar has
attained sufficient strength.
1.3 Reinforced Concrete Jacketing: In the case of heavily damaged brick masonry
walls, or where there is a need to strengthen the entire wall, the application of
external reinforcement and concrete on both sides of the wall is a way of improving
its lateral strength and energy dissipation capacity. The jacket can be in the form of
ferro-cement with wire mesh or reinforcement mat with shotcrete.
In case of stone masonry walls, plaster and loose stone pieces are removed first and
all the cracks are grouted and sealed. Next, 6 to 8 mm diameter bars are placed on
either side of the wall. At regular intervals stones are removed from the wall and a
reinforcement cage is placed in the void. The void is filled with concrete to create a
shear connector. This ensures efficient transfer of forces between the existing wall
and the new concrete.
1.4 Grout Injection: Stone, mixed stone and brick masonry are frequently
characterised by two outer leaves of masonry with an infill of smaller pieces of stone.
Lime mortar, often of relatively poor quality, is used as the bonding material. Due to
poor methods of construction and agents of weathering, many voids are formed
within, drastically weakening their resistance to lateral loads.
Systematically filling the voids by cementitious grout injection is an efficient method
of strengthening. After hardening, the injected grout will bond the loose parts
together into a solid homogeneous structure. A cementitious mix (90% Portland
cement and 10% pozzolanas) is injected into the wall through injection tubes and
nozzles built into the joints between the stones, uniformly over the entire wall surface
at 0.5 to 1.0 m interval. The grouting should proceed from the bottom to the top. The
advantage of this intervention is that it is invisible.
1.5 Prestressing: Prestressing can be introduced in an existing structure by post
tensioning. Tendons can be inserted in the holes that are drilled through the central
part of a wall at uniform spacing. After prestressing a uniform compression is
induced in the wall, thereby increasing its lateral load resistance. The tendons can be
removed from the wall in case a better solution for strengthening is developed.
1.6 Wall Reconstruction: There may be cases where heavily damaged brick and
stone masonry walls or parts of walls cannot be repaired or strengthened. If the

remaining structure is retainable, then careful dismantling and reconstruction of the

wall is the only option. During reconstruction, materials compatible with the original
masonry but of improved quality should be used. Special stitching units should be
incorporated at uniform interval to provide good connection between the new and
existing masonry.
In case of stone masonry, reconstruction becomes necessary where the wall has
bulged excessively or collapsed, as shown in figure. Complete reconstruction can be
avoided if one of the layers is stable enough to be used as the formwork for
reconstruction. Connecting stones must be used at intervals of 1.0 m to bridge the
two layers. After the reconstruction, grouting should be carried out to ensure filling up
of all the voids and to increase the homogeneity of the wall.
1.7 Strengthening using Fibre Reinforced Polymer: The use of fibre reinforced
polymer (FRP) is non-invasive and reversible, a favorable feature for historical
buildings. In the case of masonry domes, FRP strips may be used as horizontal
bands on the extrados of the domes.
1.8 Strengthening using Shape Memory Alloys: Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are
metal alloys (nickeltitanium) endowed with very unusual thermo-mechanical
properties due to reversible crystallographic phase transformation. The ability to
recover large deformations in loading-unloading cycles is known as the super-elastic
behavior. SMAs are particularly suited for historical buildings. They may be used as
wires or strands in association with conventional steel strands, and as parts of
devices capable of increasing both in-plane and out-of-plane capacities of masonry
walls. Figure shows a bracing system consisting of diagonal steel bars with a
dissipating device on top of each. A nickeltitanium wire is wound up on a pulley.
One end of it is connected to a steel anchor plate and the other end is connected to a
diagonal steel bar. The anchor plates on each side of the wall are bolted together
securely. A steel beam at the base provides anchorage for the steel bar. This system
provides permanent compression on the wall. It also satisfies the requirements of
non-invasive nature and reversibility of intervention for historic buildings.
1.9 Repair of Wall Corners and Intersections: The corners and intersections of
walls are frequently damaged during earthquakes. They can be strengthened by
stone stitching or metal stitching. In case of stone stitching, new stones diagonally
connecting the intersecting walls are placed with sufficient bearing and embedded in
cement mortar, at intervals 500 to 750 mm. In case of metal stitching, steel strips
welded to anchor plates at their outer ends are placed at the intersection.