Structural Assessment, Analysis and Retrofit Design of Old Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the U.S. – A Comprehensive Guide

In Structural Assessment, Analysis and Retrofit Design of Old Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the U.S. – A Comprehensive Guide, you'll learn ...

• The structural vulnerabilities of URM buildings, including lack of reinforcement, poor diaphragm anchorage, and brittle failure modes.
• Common signs of structural deterioration such as diagonal cracking, wall bulging, mortar degradation, and wall separation.
• In-situ material testing techniques—including flat-jack tests, Schmidt hammer, penetrometer, and core sampling—to evaluate masonry strength and durability.
• Retrofit strategies such as center core reinforcement, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), shotcrete jacketing, and diaphragm anchorage

Overview

Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.

Credit: 3 PDH

Length: 42 pages

Old unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings are still common across the U.S. despite their vulnerability to earthquakes and structural deterioration. This course provides practicing structural engineers with a comprehensive framework for assessing and retrofitting old, cracked unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings—a major priority in historic and seismic-prone areas across the United States.

The course begins with a historical overview, explaining how URMs—built widely before the 1940s—lack reinforcement, reliable wall-to-floor ties, and ductility, making them brittle under seismic forces. Students will learn to recognize distress indicators such as diagonal cracking, bulging walls, and deteriorated mortar.

The course outlines a methodology for structural assessment, including visual inspections, in-situ material testing, and capacity checks. Modern analysis tools such as ETABS are discussed, with attention to orthotropic wall behavior and system connectivity. Retrofit strategies—ranging from center core reinforcement and fiber-reinforced polymer overlays to shotcrete jacketing and diaphragm anchorage—are presented, with pros, cons, and heritage considerations. Case studies of schools, courthouses, and civic buildings highlight practical applications.

By blending code-based procedures with real case studies, the course addresses both safety and preservation, helping engineers meet today’s structural challenges in an evolving regulatory and heritage-conscious industry.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• The structural behavior and vulnerabilities of old and cracked unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings commonly found across the U.S.
• How to conduct thorough structural assessments using visual inspection, material testing, and analytical calculations in compliance with ASCE 41 and FEMA standards.
• How to accurately model URM walls in ETABS, including orthotropic shell behavior, nonlinear hinge definitions, and out-of-plane stability.
• Retrofit strategies, including traditional methods and modern approaches such as center core reinforcement.
• ofit solutions that improve in-plane shear strength, out-of-plane flexural capacity, and overall seismic performance.
• How to apply engineering judgment in selecting and detailing appropriate interventions while maintaining historical and architectural value.
• Professional software tools used to support assessment, design, documentation, and communication of retrofit solutions.
• Real-world case studies of URM retrofits that demonstrate practical challenges in balancing seismic safety, cost, and preservation of historic character

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 20 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.