Structural consolidation of mud brick masonry

The first aim of this paper is to provide an illustration of fabric survey, damage assessment, and structural consolidation of the mud brick structures of Al Ain, an oasis in the United Arab Emirates. The buildings mostly date to the turn of the last century and it was concluded that damage of such vernacular architecture is represented by thermal movement, structural cracks, leaning walls, granular disintegration, erosion and creation of preferential channels, and coving. Furthermore, damage caused by animals and by recent interventions was also surveyed. The second aim of the paper is to illustrate the structural consolidation of mud brick masonry by explaining the work undertaken in the mosque of Al Jahili (1891-1898). This includes eroded wall repair, window filling, repair of cracks with the stitching technique, wall top consolidation, and roof repair.