Seismic design of existing load-bearing unreinforced masonry buildings overlying open plan basements retrofitted with reinforced concrete plane frames

Abstract

Two tectonic plates of particular importance, namely the Euro-African plate and the Hyblean-Malta Escarpment, lie within close proximity of the Maltese Islands. Unfortunately, Maltese masonry buildings have not been traditionally assigned to withstand seismic activity. The local population is under the false perception that Malta is free from seismic hazard and, therefore, there is a tendency to ignore the associated seismic risks (Galea, 2007).