• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.487-502
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• 2022

China is prone to earthquake disasters, and the higher seismic performance is required by many existing civil buildings. And seismic evaluation and retrofit are effective measures to mitigate seismic hazards. With the development of performance-based seismic design and diverse retrofit technology for buildings, advanced evaluation methods and retrofit strategies are in need. In this paper, we introduced the evolution of seismic performance objectives in China combined with performance-based seismic design. Accordingly, multi-phase evaluation methods and comprehensive seismic capacity assessment are introduced. For buildings with seismic deficiency or higher performance requirements, the retrofit technologies are categorized into three types: component strengthening, system optimization, and passive control. Both engineering property and social property for the retrofit methods are discussed. The traditional seismic retrofit methods usually are costly and disturbing, and for example in Beijing, seismic strengthening costs approx. 1000 RMB/m² (for 160 USD/m²), for hospital building even more expensive as 5000 RMB/m²(for 790 USD/m²). So cost-efficient and little disturbance methods are promising techniques. In the end, some opinions about the retrofit strategy and schemes category are shared and wish to discuss the situation and future of seismic retrofit in China.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2012

Reinforced concrete shear walls and X-type steel braces were applied in seismic retrofit techniques for seismic performance evaluation of school buildings constructed in accordance with standard design announced by the ordinance of the ministry of construction in 1980s. Seismic performance evaluation was based on FEMA 356 using response spectrum as elastic analysis and conducted to pushover analysis with nonlinear static analysis. The maximum displacement ratio between floors in 4th and 3rd floors of the existing school buildings was less than 1.0%, which was functioning level in FEMA 356. However, because plastic hinge occurs somewhat in structural members according to the results of pushover analysis, partial reinforcement will be required. X-direction of the maximum lateral displacement of reinforced concrete shear walls than X-type steel braces was 45% and 32% in 4th and 3rd floors of school buildings, and Y-direction was 18% and 17%, respectively.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.167-184
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• 2023

In this study, a new recentering friction device (RFD) to retrofit steel moment frame structures is introduced. The device provides both self-centering and energy dissipation capabilities for the retrofitted structure. A hybrid performance-based seismic design procedure considering multiple limit states is proposed for designing the device and the retrofitted structure. The design of the RFD is achieved by modifying the conventional performance-based seismic design (PBSD) procedure using computational intelligence techniques, namely, genetic algorithm (GA) and artificial neural network (ANN). Numerous nonlinear time-history response analyses (NLTHAs) are conducted on multi-degree of freedom (MDOF) and single-degree of freedom (SDOF) systems to train and validate the ANN to achieve high prediction accuracy. The proposed procedure and the new RFD are assessed using 2D and 3D models globally and locally. Globally, the effectiveness of the proposed device is assessed by conducting NLTHAs to check the maximum inter-story drift ratio (MIDR). Seismic fragilities of the retrofitted models are investigated by constructing fragility curves of the models for different limit states. After that, seismic life cycle cost (LCC) is estimated for the models with and without the retrofit. Locally, the stress concentration at the contact point of the RFD and the existing steel frame is checked being within acceptable limits using finite element modeling (FEM). The RFD showed its effectiveness in minimizing MIDR and eliminating residual drift for low to mid-rise steel frames models tested. GA and ANN proved to be crucial integrated parts in the modified PBSD to achieve the required seismic performance at different limit states with reasonable computational cost. ANN showed a very high prediction accuracy for transformation between MDOF and SDOF systems. Also, the proposed retrofit showed its efficiency in enhancing the seismic fragility and reducing the LCC significantly compared to the un-retrofitted models.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.467-488
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• 2023

Seismic retrofit of an existing steel-reinforced concrete hospital building that features innovative use of a continuous energy-dissipative steel column (CEDC) system is presented in this paper. The special system has been adopted to provide an efficient solution taking into account the difficulties of applying traditional intervention techniques to minimize the impact on architectural functionality and avoid the loss of building function and evacuation during the retrofit implementation. The lateral stiffness and strength of the CEDC system were defined based on the geometric and mechanical properties of the steel strip dampers. The hysteretic behavior under cyclic loadings was defined using a simplified numerical model. Its effectiveness was validated by comparing the results of full-scale experimental data available from the literature. All the main design considerations of the retrofitting plan are described in detail. The effectiveness of the proposed retrofitting system was demonstrated by nonlinear time-history analyses under different sets of earthquake-strong ground motions. The analysis results show that the CEDC system is effective in controlling the deformation pattern and significantly reducing damage to the existing structure during major earthquakes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.339-355
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• 2006

A procedure to retrofit existing essential facilities subjected to seismic excitation is proposed. The main features of this procedure are to reduce maximum acceleration and associated forces in buildings subjected to seismic excitation by reducing their strength (weakening). The weakening retrofit, which is an opposite strategy to strengthening, is particularly suitable for buildings having overstressed components and foundation supports or having weak brittle components. However, by weakening the structure large deformations are expected. Supplementaldamping devices however can control the deformations within desirable limits. The structure retrofitted with this strategy will have, therefore, a reduction in the acceleration response and a reduction in the deformations, depending on the amount of additional damping introduced in the structure. An illustration of the above strategy is presented here through an evaluation of the inelastic response of the structure through a nonlinear dynamic analysis. The results are compared with different retrofit techniques. A parametric analysis has also been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the retrofitting method using different combination of the performance thresholds in accelerations and displacements through fragility analysis.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.591-601
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• 2017

To prevent or limit the damage caused by earthquakes on existing buildings, several retrofitting techniques are possible. In this work, an ultra high performance concrete based on sand dune has been formulated for use in the reinforcement of a multifunctional tower in the city of Skikda in Algeria. Tests on the formulated ultra high performance concrete are performed to determine its characteristics. A nonlinear dynamic analysis, based on the "Pushover" method was conducted. The analysis allowed an optimization of the width of reinforced concrete walls used in seismic strengthening. Two types of concrete are studied, the ordinary concrete and the ultra high performance concrete. Both alternatives are compared with the reinforcement with carbon fibers and by base isolation retrofit design.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2015

In this study, a series of forced vibration testing and ambient vibration measurement were performed at a lowrise masonry-infilled reinforced concrete frame structure before and after seismic retrofit and its dynamic properties were extracted using system identification techniques. Also, analytical models which show similar dynamic properties to the measures ones were constructed. The system identification results showed that damping ratios in x direction along which the dampers were installed has been increased. From the comparison between the analytical models, the effective stiffness of post-installed member and post-reinforced members(shear walls and damper frames) were only 50% of gross sectional stiffness of the members, which indicates that the these members were not fully integrated with the existing structure or members. In addition, support condition of post-installed footing has to be pinned in y direction to match the dynamic properties, which is seemingly caused by the change of fixity of the soil due to the installation of new footing.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-48
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• 2015

The main purpose of this work is to compare different criteria for the seismic strengthening of RC framed buildings in order to find the optimal combinations of these retrofitting techniques. To this end, a numerical investigation is carried out with reference to the town hall of Spilinga (Italy), an RC framed structure with an L-shaped plan built at the beginning of the 1960s. Five structures are considered, derived from the first by incorporating: carbon fibre reinforced polymer (FRP)-wrapping of all columns; base-isolation, with high-damping-laminated-rubber bearings (HDLRBs); added damping, with hysteretic damped braces (HYDBs); FRP-wrapping of the first storey columns combined with base-isolation or added damping. A three-dimensional fibre model of the primary and retrofitted structures is considered; bilinear and trilinear laws idealize, respectively, the behaviour of the HYDB, providing that the buckling be prevented, and the FRP-wrapping, without resistance in compression, while the response of the HDLRB is simulated by using a viscoelastic linear model. The effectiveness of the retrofitting solutions is tested with nonlinear dynamic analyses based on biaxial accelerograms, whose response spectra match those in the Italian seismic code.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.727-747
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• 2008

In the framework of the SPEAR (Seismic PErformance Assessment and Rehabilitation) research Project, an under-designed three storey RC frame structure, designed to sustain only gravity loads, was subjected, in three different configurations 'as-built', Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) retrofitted and rehabilitated by reinforced concrete (RC) jacketing, to a series of bi-directional pseudodynamic (PsD) tests under different values of peak ground acceleration (PGA) (from a minimum of 0.20g to a maximum of 0.30g). The seismic deficiencies exhibited by the 'as-built' structure after the test at PGA level of 0.20g were confirmed by a post - test assessment of the structural seismic capacity performed by a nonlinear static pushover analysis implemented on the structure lumped plasticity model. To improve the seismic performance of the 'as-built' structure', two rehabilitation interventions by using either FRP laminates or RC jacketing were designed. Assumptions for the analytical modeling, design criteria and calculation procedures along with local and global intervention measures and their installation details are herein presented and discussed. Nonlinear static pushover analyses for the assessment of the theoretical seismic capacity of the structure in each retrofitted configuration were performed and compared with the experimental outcomes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.359-365
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• 2008

As housing supply ratio has become over 100%, the strategic vision of government's policies has been changed from new construction to maintenance and regeneration of old architectural-structures. This fact has brought a light on the reconstruction and remodeling industries and a need for retrofit and rehabilitation techniques of existing foundation. Various methods of foundation for architectural-structures do exist. Among them, micropiling technologies are increasingly applied in foundation rehabilitation and seismic retrofitting projects. Micropiling techniques provide environmental-friendly methods for minimizing disturbance to adjacent structures, ground, and the environment. The installation is possible in restrictive area and general ground conditions. The fact that the installation procedures cause minimal vibration and noise and require very low ceiling height makes the micropiling methods to be commonly used for underpin existing structures. Specialized drilling equipment is often required to install the micropiles for existing basement facilities. This paper presents a case study in which micropiles were constructed to support a superstructure for vertical extension of existing elevator core and provide accessibility to underground parking lot. It is intended to become useful reference for the similar remodeling project.