ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the main objectives and steps of the project together with a general summary of the various construction systems developed by the project partners. The project aims at developing innovative systems for a wide range of masonry enclosures, improving their overall technological performances and in particular those related to the earthquake behaviour. Several research programs have focused on the development of strengthening techniques for existing and possibly damaged infills, aimed at improving both the in-plane and out-of-plane performance. Various techniques for the retrofitting of unreinforced masonry walls have been introduced, namely pre-stressing, jacketing and surface treatments. At the end of 2013 the Commission of the European Communities has funded a research project for the benefit of Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises, aimed at developing innovative systems for masonry enclosures. The project mainly deals with external partition systems for reinforced concrete framed buildings, that is, infill walls.
