Use of Structural Steel Frames for Structural Restoration of URM Historical Buildings in Seismic Areas

Structural steel frames offer a promising solution for enhancing the seismic performance of unreinforced masonry (URM) historical buildings, particularly in earthquake-prone regions like Istanbul. This study demonstrates that attaching internal steel frames to URM walls significantly reduces inter-story drifts and increases lateral stiffness and strength, even in buildings with plan irregularities. The technique preserves the building's historic fabric, avoids architectural space occupation, and allows for easy replacement post-earthquake if minor damage occurs. Applied to a five-story historical masonry building in Istanbul, the proposed method effectively mitigates seismic risks while maintaining structural integrity and cultural heritage.

Karakale, V. (2017). Use of Structural Steel Frames for Structural Restoration of URM Historical Buildings in Seismic Areas. Journal of Earthquake and Tsunami, 11(04), 1750012. https://doi.org/10.1142/s1793431117500129