Modern construction techniques have come a long way. Traditional structural systems cease to continue due to the improvements offered by modern construction materials in terms of strength and economy achieved by reducing construction time. However, such improvements can also lead to increased carbon emissions thus causing adverse environmental impacts.
Traditional building methods are being studied not only in the context of earthquake safety assessment and retrofit with an aim to overcome few critical limitations of such constructions, but also as retaining and rehabilitating existing infrastructure which is more environment friendly. Many of the traditionally used floor systems have been proven to be efficient due to their superior fire resistance and thermal insulation properties. A judicious upgrade can improve the response of such traditional systems and help these meet the strength and stiffness requirements of modern systems.
Moreover, the ethos of preserving existing infrastructure aligns with broader sustainability goals, fostering a greener approach to construction. In locales such as Jefferson County, where outdoor spaces hold significant value, incorporating the expertise of outdoor construction jefferson county can amplify the dedication to conserving heritage and artisanal expertise. Through meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to quality, Fare Outdoor Construction transforms outdoor environments into havens of beauty and functionality, harmonizing tradition with modernity to create enduring landscapes that stand the test of time.
Mr. S. Krishnachandran 
Prof. Arun Menon
In this study, the authors which include Mr. S. Krishnachandran and Prof. Arun Menon, from the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India, have studied the Madras Terrace flooring technique and have tried to strengthen this floor system using modern techniques to overcome its limitations.
Madras Terrace was a floor or roof construction technique used back in the days of the Madras Presidency in South India. It is a type of composite floor construction, commonly used for smaller spans, composed of timber joists (joists are the supporting beams) with diagonally laid brick and lime mortar layers on top and a topmost overlay consisting of brick bat lime concrete.
The advantages of this system are that it is strong, durable, and watertight, with good thermal insulation and is easily maintainable.
In spite of these advantages, this construction does not work well in the case of earthquakes. This is because the original design and construction of the Madras Terrace technique was not conceived for resisting earthquake loads, and peninsular India was known to be low to moderately seismic. But with updating of earthquake standards, and the need to ensure minimum earthquake safety of constructions, it is essential to study the earthquake resistance of such systems, prevalent in existing buildings, many of them with heritage value.
To characterize the earthquake resistance of this system, a full-scale Madras Terrace floor was constructed and tested in the Structural Engineering Laboratory of IIT Madras. Further, the floor system was upgraded using post-installed metal anchors to improve its performance under earthquakes. The improved earthquake resistance of the system was studied using experimental tests, numerical studies and analytical models. Results indicated that the upgraded floor was stronger, with a 4 times increase in load carrying capacity, improved ductility and improved stiffness. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the Madras Terrace floor technique was characterized and the earthquake response was investigated.
With the case of unreinforced masonry buildings, strength and stiffness of the floors was observed to affect the performance of buildings under earthquakes. Thus, the improved earthquake resistance of the upgraded Madras Terrace floors would make these buildings more able to withstand earthquakes. This research shows that without replacing with modern systems, traditional structural systems can be restored through judicious upgrades with cost-effective modern day solutions to achieve the required performance objectives.
Article by Akshay Anantharaman
Here is the original link to the paper:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15583058.2022.2033886?journalCode=uarc20
