GUIDELINES FOR EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION OF STONE BUILDINGS USING MUD MORTAR

This paper presents guidelines for seismic strengthening, construction, or reconstruction of stone houses as one of the traditional settlements in Zagros area, which is an earthquake prone area. The guidelines will also be helpful in earthquake resistant construction of stone houses in other parts of Iran which fall in seismic zones based on the Seismic Zoning Map of Iranian code for earthquake resistance design of buildings (Standard No. 2800). Unfortunately not only this code does not cover the stone buildings at all but in Iran also no any other guideline or code is provided to refer which is main motivation for preparing the guidelines within this paper. Guidelines for seismic strengthening of new and existing old foundations, stone masonry walls ın mud mortar, control on wall length and building height, control of openings in bearing walls, seismic bands, vertical reinforcing bars in walls and etc are provided.