UPGRADING AND REFURBISHMENT OF TRADITIONALLY CONSTRUCTED MUDBRICK HOUSES IN SEISMIC REGIONS

Scaled models were tested to determine the residual strength of rural dwellings in the potential earthquake belt. Many of the buildings which are occupied, impose logistic and resource constraints on any proposed improvement. The project has been laboratory based and has consisted of; (a) identifying a simple design which typifies both che foundations and the structural layout, (b) choosing a practical scale so that method of construction and material properties could be modelled faithfully and, (c) repairing the ensuing damage after the initial dynainic loads and assessing the improved resistance due to renewed loading. The repairs were found to be simple, inexpensive and effective, improving the structural stiffness significantly.