Shaking table tests on seismic retrofitting of rammed-earth structures

Rammed-earth dwellings are widely used in rural areas worldwide; with poor mechanical properties and weak seismic resistance, these structures are vulnerable to earthquakes. This study presents a method for reinforcing existing rammed-earth buildings by strengthening the walls with externally bonded fibers. Shaking table tests were conducted to study the seismic performance of two rammed-earth model structures—with and without reinforcement. We observed the crack patterns, failure modes, changes in dynamic properties, in-plane deformation, wall response, and roof–wall interaction in the models. The results confirm that the seismic resistance of rammed-earth structures reinforced using the proposed method was substantially improved.