Structural Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Century-Old Masonry and Timber Buildings

Abstract

This work focused on the structural condition assessment, repair, and rehabilitation aspects of old buildings built primarily with masonry and timber. Specifically, several school buildings that are old and considered historically important in the regional education landscape were considered for evaluation. Several visual and nondestructive load-testing techniques were used to evaluate the structural condition, stresses and deformations, structural and nonstructural issues, and building safety. Cost-effective designs were implemented to repair and rehabilitate damaged structural members with locally available materials that matched the visual needs while meeting the design requirements. Evaluations of buildings focused on masonry foundations and walls, wood floor joists and roof rafters, steel beams and truss members, and other structural elements. Energy losses were evaluated through infrared (IR) thermography techniques. After approximately a century of service, most of the building elements were found to have the required design strength and meet the serviceability criteria.