Strengthening of structures damaged by the Azores earthquake of 1998.

1. Introduction

The observation of the social reality of Azores islands, as the Faial island, reveals an economy essentially based on family subsistence of people who long ago resigned themselves to "accept" earthquakes as inevitable. This scenario pointed out the preservation of traditional construction and techniques as one of the main premises for the rehabilitation of Faial small buildings hit by earthquakes in general and by the seismic crises of 9 July 1998, in particular.

The rehabilitation and strengthening strategy thus requires good knowledge about