ABSTRACT
Being an aged building with special structural style, it raises many problems in the maintenance and protection. Effective sections of the horizontally loadbearing timbers or vertically load-bearing masonry walls have decreased under continuous corrosion, and the structural materials may also have degenerated
after more than a hundred years of use. Besides, the composite structure of timber and masonry has weak joints between horizontal and vertical load-bearing members, and is vulnerable to external effects (Weng et al. 2000).The several partial changes of the structure may impair the entirety of the structure. Meanwhile, the density, the stiffness and strength of the steel and concrete used during the previous retrofits are far different from the original timber. The difference may result in further uneven settlements and the redistribution of inner forces in the structure. The problems may be more serious because many underground infrastructures and new tall buildings are now being constructed near the old building and properties of the ground soil in the Bund area are complicated and generally soft.
