The Assessment and Retrofitting of Cultural Heritage—A Case Study of a Residential Building in Glina

Abstract

The focus of the study is on the renovation of a specific case study, which is a 19th century building under cultural heritage protection. It highlights the particular challenges faced by civil engineers in the structural renovation of buildings that are under heritage protection. Preserving the identity of these buildings limits the available methods for strengthening their seismic capacity. At the beginning, information about the seismic activity and the different post-earthquake evaluation procedures are presented to identify the damage and take appropriate further steps. Then, basic information about the building is given and supported by graphic attachments. In the following, the methods and materials are explained, focusing on in situ testing with the semi-destructive flat-jack method and the analysis of the structure with the nonlinear method implemented in the software. Subsequently, the obtained results are presented and discussed, accompanied by graphics. An approach for strengthening the structure is presented, which includes a combination of traditional methods and innovative solutions suitable for the preservation of cultural heritage. The discussion and conclusions emphasize the importance of assessing and retrofitting existing masonry structures due to their vulnerability, especially in earthquake-prone areas. Finally, this article also provides insights into the local context, cultural significance, and historical background of the building, along with the specific retrofitting solutions employed to address its unique requirements.