Assessment Method for Combined Structural and Energy Retrofitting in Masonry Buildings

The retrofitting of existing masonry buildings is now a crucial problem for Europe. Indeed, structural safety and energy efficiency should represent the target of any renovation. The proposal of a new synthetic performance parameter is presented and discussed. Following this approach, in this paper, after a review of the main studies available in the literature, a proposal of a new performance parameter approach is presented and discussed. It is capable of taking into account both the structural and thermal aspects of masonry retrofitting. An emblematic set of reinforcements and energy improvements for masonry walls is examined. An example, generalized formulas, and a simultaneous evaluation of the role of multiple structural and thermal parameters on masonry buildings are proposed, with a view to optimize several categories of costs related to the intervention.