A Review on Construction Techniques and Structural Restoration of Ancient Masonry Buildings

In the whole procedure of preservation, conservation, and restoration of monuments and historical buildings, structural restoration is considered an undesirable parameter, since it implies interventions on a large scale that might harm the authenticity of a culturally protected building. However, this type of intervention is an inevitable action, because it pertains to the safety of the building and, most importantly, to the safety of the users. In this respect, authenticity and safety are two concepts contradicting each other, and they are ensured by professionals of different origins and philosophies, namely archaeology & architecture on one side and science & technology on the other. In the case of structural restoration, these professionals are required to find a common space of co-existence so that the results of restoration satisfy both concepts, authenticity and safety. The present study gives an overview of thorough knowledge of construction techniques of masonry elements or systems or forms used in the past. In fact, in a period of more than five millennia, various techniques of construction have been developed as a result of big revolutions that have taken place in the history of human civilization. A deep knowledge of all the above is necessary for the suitable selection of present-day techniques and materials that might be used in structural restoration, where principles of reversible or irreversible techniques play a vital role together with the compatibility and durability of intervention materials. The main objective of this study is to guide the structural engineers involved in the structural repair of ancient monuments and buildings of national importance.