Seismic evaluation and retrofitting of the structures of the Sadaghiani masonry historical complex

This study presents a thorough evaluation of the seismic behavior and retrofitting of the buildings of the Sadaghini historical complex. For this, tests were first carried out on the materials of the buildings to determine their mchanical properties. Then, using extensive nonlinear static analyses, the vulnerability of the Sadaghiani buildings was assessed at different target limit states to formulate desirable retrofitting schemes. The numerical results showed that the structures failed to satisfy the expected limit states of the retrofitting scheme at the designated target displacements. To overcome this, the masonry walls were retrofitted using Reinforced Concrete (RC) confining elements to strengthen the structures. The results of the analyses performed on the retrofitted structures highlighted the significant of role of the RC confining elements in augmenting the structures’ ability to meet the predetermined performance levels. Adding the RC confinements resulted in considerable increases in the stiffness, strength, and energy dissipation of the masonry buildings. What this research strives to accomplish is to highlight the effectiveness of appropriate retrofitting plans in preserving the historical character of heritage masonry structure. The findings can be of use for engineers and researchers who are active in retrofitting research and projects.