Retrofitting Measures of Guntupalli Caves, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India, using Reinforced Rock Technique

India is known for its rich, diversified and cultural properties. Assessment, evaluation and maintenance of ancient and historical monuments is a major concern today. Most of the historical structures which were built in earlier 1950s are now found unsafe if cheeked by present codes. Disintegration / deterioration due to continuous weathering processes and bitter failure examples from recent natural hazards reveal the importance of restoration / retrofitting measures. In this paper, a case study on Guntupalli Caves, one of the finest testimonials of Buddhist Heritage, located in eastern ghat region of A.P. state, India, is taken up. The important monuments located in the study area are rock cut temples, monasteries and ruined Mandapa. Rock samples of different monuments are collected and tested in the laboratory and from test results, it is observed that the compressive and bending stress values are low and found vulnerable against any further loading. A new retrofit concept “Reinforced Rock” technique is adopted by introducing steel flats / bars in tension zone of rock samples. Test results have shown that compression and bending stress values are increased by two to four times compared with the results of those obtained in rock samples without reinforcement.