The structural assessment of a typical unreinforced masonry building, in Albania

Abstract

Masonry buildings are some of the most spread construction objects in Albania. They were built mostly before the year 1990. In the early years of the communist period in our country, stone masonry buildings were built, but some years later, especially during 1944-1990 brick masonry buildings continued to be constructed. These years, in order to design according to Albanian Code (KTP) guidelines, template projects of the residential building having masonry load-bearing walls were designed. This study highlights the importance of studying masonry buildings. Many people in our nation live and work in the masonry construction industry. Masonry buildings make up more than 60% of Albania's building stock [Bilgin and Hysenlliu 2020]. To determine whether repairs, retrofits, or merely upkeep are required, they must be thoroughly evaluated. The thesis presents some designing Codes about masonry like Eurocode and Albanian Code provisions. Engineers must adhere to these criteria in order to identify issues with the buildings, maintain them, retrofit them, or construct new masonry structures that are safer than those constructed in accordance with outdated technical codes. Albania is a country that is at the meeting point of the Euro-Asia and Adria tectonic plates. Several sized earthquakes have been caused by the crushing of these plates. The Earth's crust has suffered significant damage as a result.Buildings, people, and the environment are all affected by these impacts on the earth's crust. So, iv it is essential to determine the impacts of the earthquake in Albania in order to prevent deaths and minimize economic losses from such issues. Earthquake design according to Eurocode is important. An applied example will be included in the thesis to provide readers with a thorough understanding of seismic design. A three-story, conventional masonry building will be examined. The analysis will be carried out utilizing the current Eurocodes guidelines and CDS-Win software. The structure will be analyzed utilizing the N2 and ATC-40 methodologies. To determine whether or not this building is safe to use, a nonlinear dynamic analysis will be conducted, and software findings will be obtained and analyzed. These analyses led to the decision that the masonry structure should be destroyed. This thesis is merely a highlight for aspiring engineers that work with these kinds of structures. This research is just an entrance into the study of masonry buildings. Future engineers in Albania should be aware when intervening in these types of objects. First of all the load-bearing capacity of the building should be revealed in this case and then should be taken intoconsideration the depreciation of the building, since the construction culture of our country, there is little to do with the maintenance of buildings over the years.