3rd Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering 3CroCEE

The deterioration of old masonry structures, particularly from the Middle Ages, poses significant challenges due to material degradation and structural deficiencies. This study focuses on assessing and strengthening a traditional stone masonry "Kulla," addressing the need to preserve its historical character while improving its structural performance to meet modern building codes. The research objectives are to identify material and structural deficiencies, evaluate the impact on load-bearing capacity, and develop effective retrofitting techniques. A combination of non-destructive and destructive testing methods was used to analyze material properties and structural elements such as stone foundations, walls, roofs, and floors. The results revealed substantial material deterioration, particularly in the stone masonry, leading to the design of a tailored retrofitting strategy focused on strengthening key elements. This retrofitting approach significantly improves the building's seismic and structural resilience, with comparisons showing a marked improvement between the building's current and retrofitted conditions. The study highlights the importance of integrating material analysis and retrofitting techniques to preserve ancient masonry structures' structural integrity and historical value in seismic regions.