This paper
reports on a study carried out to assess the structural stability of historical
buildings and proposes urgent interventions and consolidation priorities of
vulnerable structure. The study was undertaken mainly on the historic center of
Kour village and on few buildings in Nablus old city. The studied areas contain
old buildings of high significances to Palestinian built cultural heritage
however, due to lack of needed funds to carry out elaborate studies of conservation
and structural restoration, the study urgent intervention and consolidation.
The estimates
damage of old masonry buildings was assessed and classified according to the
European Maro Seismic scale (EMS-98). In addition, the study surveyed the
historic site and produced tables that include information about the structural
type, utilization, architectural configuration, etc. for buildings.
Based on the
damage and decay causes, field assessment revealed that old masonry buildings
suffer from several types of damage and deterioration, flat vault’s collapse
corner detachment, large permanent deformation, façade detachment, remarkable
split at the base of the pillars, slipping between the arch blocks, missing
stones … etc. investigations also revealed that several old masonry buildings
are expected to suffer very heavy structural damage in the near future, and
most of them will have a total collapsed
under the influence of moderate earthquakes.
In the light of
structural conditions of the old masonry building and their seismic
vulnerability classes, the study contains important conclusions and
recommendations to ensure stability and needed stiffness for each damaged
buildings. The paper also indicates emergency consolidation plan taking into
consideration the consolidation priorities.