Table 2: Summary of the effectiveness of the strengthening/retrofitting methods.

Methods		Effectiveness
To reduce force	Base isolation	Forces will be reduced by a factor of 5 to 6 times.
	Seismic damper	It can significantly reduce the seismic induced vibrations and improve the overall behaviour of the structure by increasing its internal damping through the energy dissipated by the seismic dampers.
To upgrade the existing buildings	Surface treatment	The shotcrete increases the lateral strength about 3.6 times and improves the stability in out-of-plane direction, while the ferrocement increases the lateral resistance about 150%.
	Mortar joint treatment	Both the grout injection and re-point technique can only restore its original stiffness and strength.
	External steel reinforcement	The lateral in-plane resistance was improved by a factor of 4.5.
	Post-tension	It increases the lateral stiffness and strength up to a factor of 2, It also increase the strength in out-of-plane direction. The center core technique can double its load carrying capacity.
	Mesh reinforcement	FRP increases the lateral resistance by a factor 1.1 to 3. It can also improve the out-of-plane stability.
	Reticulatus system	The shear strength can be increased by 15 to 170% depends on the masonry to be retrofitted.
To improve the integrity	Constructional columns	The lateral resistance can be increased about 1.5 times and improve the deformability and energy adsorption about 50%
	Ring beams	It improves the integrity of the structure and reserve much strength after earthquake.
	Tie bars	It works quite similarly with the steel bars in post-tension method. The seismic capacity of masonry structure can be significantly improved.
	Fibre/textile-reinforced mortar	The tensile strength of mortar will be improved, thus preventing the out-of-plane expulsion.