EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR SEISMIC REINFORCEMENT OF ADOBE HOUSES

A reinforcement system for existing adobe houses is presented, as well as an adaptation for new houses, with the objective to prevent their collapse under severe earthquakes. The experimental research project was developed between 1994 and 1999, with the financial support of GTZ of Germany, the administration of CERESIS, and the execution of the Catholic University of Peru. Several reinforcement techniques were studied, and it was concluded that the most appropriate was to reinforce the walls with horizontal and vertical strips of wire mesh electrically welded, covered with cement mortar. The technique was applied successfully in six existing houses that were subjected to the earthquake of June 23, 2001 (Mw=8.4), that affected the south of Peru. Neighboring dwellings of non-reinforced adobe suffered heavy damage or collapsed. This motivated several reconstruction programs of new reinforced adobe houses in the Andean zone, in which the technique was improved. Shaking table tests on the system used in the new houses demonstrated that the reinforcement provided is effective for resisting severe earthquakes without collapse.