The Use of Titanium in Conservation and Seismic Reinforcement of Masonry Structures

Reinforcement of masonry buildings and infrastructures to meet structural safety requirements and new building codes has become a priority in the field of structural and earthquake engineering. A number of applications of titanium retrofits for use in civil engineering structural systems is described in this article. New advanced materials (composite materials, stainless steel, natural fibres) are being widely researched for repair and rehabilitation in civil engineering structures, but little research has been conducted regarding titanium alloys. The potential benefits, liabilities, and architectural considerations regarding the use of titanium alloys for reinforcing masonry structures are discussed with an emphasis on in-plane shear loading and out-of-plane bending. This paper therefore presents the state of the art in the use of titanium profiles in retrofitting masonry structural elements within historic structures. It includes a review of the development of the retrofitting methods and existing experimental studies on the mechanical behavior of masonry structures reinforced with titanium. Finally, it presents a number of case-studies and draws conclusions on current trends and practices based on reported studies.