Abstract:
This paper introduces a retrofitting technique aimed at preventing or prolonging the collapse of
adobe (mud brick) houses under strong earthquakes. This technique uses common polypropylene
packaging straps to form a mesh, which is then used to encase structural walls. The aim of this paper is to
give an overview of the retrofitting technique’s development and implementation. The key development
stages of static, dynamic and numerical testing are presented, showing that the proposed technique
effectively prevents brittle masonry collapse and the loss of debris.
