Structural Assessment for Deteriorated Old Building Located in Bethlehem City, Palestine

Structural assessment of existing old constructions under gravity loads has a high social and economic effect. In many countries around the world, most of the buildings date back to 1960s and 1970s and cannot ensure satisfactory seismic response, since many areas have been later classified as seismic or their design have been carried out according to obsolete codes. These structures are generally reinforced with smooth bars that exhibit poor bonds and need specific anchoring end details. In the present paper, some key aspects of structural models of old-type masonry building analysis are reported. The paper consists of a general description of the building, the results of in-situ survey and inspection, field observation records, structural investigation, determination of the mechanical and physical properties of the used constructional materials. It will also include the engineering structural analyses, assessment of its performance for gravity and seismic loads. Finally, our findings and recommendations are regarding its structural performance, behavior under prevailing conditions, new loads applied resulting from additional new steel structure floor and remedial measures approaches to improve the structural system for resisting the applied loads. The structural analysis will be provided in a separate report.