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Masonry structures are common in most of the under developed and developing countries in SouthEast Asia and Nepal is one of those nations which suffered from tremendous loss during earthquake in 2015. These types of structures are strengthened using various traditional and modern techniques, but the sustainability of the approach is obtained when local building culture is taken into consideration. The use of shear bands in masonry structures has been implemented in different nations for several centuries. It is also recommended by Government of Nepal (GoN) through design catalogues for the reconstruction of earthquake resistant buildings. These techniques proved to enhance the seismic performance of the structure but the influence of using different materials and of their configuration in term of dissipation of energy are not quantified. This research work focuses on an experimental approach to determine the mechanical behaviour of different materials (concrete, timber, or bamboo) when used as shear bands. Significant differences were highlighted in the seismic performance behaviour and energy dissipation of shear bands according to the materials, the contact surface areas and the junctions between elements. These results are analyzed in light of the substantial differences in material and labour costs at local levels in each earthquake-affected district. This article covers the experimental research conducted on shear bands and its links with on-site reconstruction activities.

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Reconstruction projects must rely on local resources and capacities to effectively reduce inhabitants' vulnerability on the long run. Vernacular architecture often reveals disaster-resilient strategies that are affordable and accessible to most people. Documenting and validating these practices through scientific research help in promoting them at different institutional and political levels. The work presented in this paper is a first step on the identification of the main factors affecting the incorporation of new practices in local building cultures and on the understanding of the extent to which these practices actually improve inhabitants' resilience. It results from a comparative study of two reconstruction projects in Nepal on the one hand and on the other hand from the research conducted by 3SR on a technique that is being reincorporated into inhabitants' building cultures: the regular insertion of seismic bands. The experimental campaign included tests on seismic bands built with different materials and cyclically loaded to assess the energy dissipated by the different configurations. The strong connection between academic and operational settings allowed for a direct contribution to the activities carried out by local stakeholders. Yet, the main factor affecting the people's acceptance of Building Back Safer (BBS) messages was the official guidelines they had to comply with to get subsidies; but it often resulted in important safety issues as their unaffordability induced improper implementations. Working on social aspects and side by side with local authorities is thus essential to widely implement proper BBS messages.

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