SILVA, F. A. N.1; OLIVEIRA, R. A.2; SOBRINHO, C. W. P.3

1) Professor, Catholic University of Pernambuco, Science and Technology Centre, farturnog@gmail.com

2) Professor, Catholic University of Pernambuco, Science and Technology Centre, romildealmeida@gmail.com

3) Civil Engineer, MSc, Technology Institute of Pernambuco, carlos@itep.br

In this work a discussion of what is termed “resistant masonry buildings” in the state of Pernambuco – Brazil is given. Topics related to the main features of this construction technique are discussed as well as the peculiarities that strongly influenced its structural performance. Aspects related to collapsing buildings that have occurred in recent years, some of them with human deaths, are treated as a historical record of actions which were implemented after them. Results of researches already developed to investigate the structural behavior of such technique are also reported including information about retrofit strategies that can be used to rehabilitate real buildings. Finally, considerations about the future trend for the rehabilitation of existing constructions to obtain acceptable levels of reliability are also presented.

Keywords: Masonry, resistant masonry, failures