• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.207-223
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• 2013

Practical seismic assessment and design of retrofit for the multitude of small ecclesiastical monuments that abound in the Balkans is the subject of this work. Application of the proposed procedures and methodologies are illustrated in an example case study, a small byzantine church located in Western Greece, which is the region with the highest seismicity in Europe. The church, known as the Fragavilla Monastery, had remained almost undamaged for 800 years, until 1993 when the Pyrgos earthquake caused critical damage mainly in the vaults. Linear elastic analysis to the recorded ground motion, capped by a biaxial failure criterion reproduced the developed damage. The same modelling and analysis procedure was subsequently used for assessment of the intended retrofitting measures. Proposed retrofitting measures included mitigation of the undesirable implications of past interventions along with a combination of strengthening schemes with externally bonded AFRPs strategically placed in the structure. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions is gauged by successful reduction of stress intensity in the critical regions and mitigation of stress localization throughout the structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2019

Any revision of seismic codes usually demands a higher capacity from structural members, making existing structures unsafe particularly from strength considerations. Retrofitting of capacity deficient members is very suitable for tackling such situations. This paper presents an experimental study on different retrofitting measures adopted for strengthening a series of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Four identical RC beam specimens were casted, out of which three specimens were strengthened by different schemes (viz., bolted hot rolled flat, bolted cold-formed steel channel, and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate, respectively) on their tension face and tested under four-point monotonic loading. This study focuses on the investigation of the flexural behaviour of these retrofitted beams, observed in terms of strength and stiffness. It was concluded that all retrofitting measures improved the structural performance of these beams. However, the cost involved with each strengthening mode was proportional to the improvement in the performance achieved.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.645-667
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• 2016

The 750 m long "De Bosset" bridge in the Cephalonia Island of Western Greece, being the area with the highest seismicity in Europe, was constructed in 1830 by successive stone arches and stiff block-type piers. The bridge suffered extensive damages during past earthquakes, such as the strong M7.2 earthquake of 1953, followed by poorly-designed reconstruction schemes with reinforced concrete. In 2005, a multidisciplinary project for the seismic assessment and restoration of the "De Bosset" bridge was undertaken under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture. The proposed retrofitting scheme combining soil improvement, structural strengthening and reconstruction of the deteriorated masonry sections was recently applied on site. Design of the rehabilitation measures and assessment of the pre- and post-interventions seismic response of the bridge were based on detailed in-situ and laboratory tests, providing foundation soil and structural material properties. In-situ inspection of the rehabilitated bridge following the strong M6.1 and M6.0 Cephalonia earthquakes of January 26th and February 3rd 2014, respectively, revealed no damages or visible defects. The efficiency of the bridge retrofitting is also proved by a preliminary performance analysis of the bridge under the recorded ground motion induced by the above earthquakes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.233-245
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• 2008

For historical masonry structures existing in the Mediterranean area, structural strengthening is of primary importance due to the continuous earthquake threat that is posed on them. Proper retrofitting of historical structures involves a thorough understanding of their structural pathology, before proceeding with any intervention measures. In this paper, a methodology is presented for the evaluation of the actual state of historical masonry structures, which can provide a useful tool for the seismic response assessment before and after the retrofitting. The methodology is mainly focused on the failure and vulnerability analysis of masonry structures using the finite element method. Using this methodology the retrofitting of historical structures with innovative techniques is investigated. The innovative technique presented here involves the exploitation of Shape Memory Alloy prestressed bars. This type of intervention is proposed because it ensures increased reversibility and minimization of interventions, in comparison with conventional retrofitting methods. In this paper, a case study is investigated for the demonstration of the proposed methodologies and techniques, which comprises a masonry Byzantine church and a masonry Cistern. Prestressed SMA alloy bars are placed into the load-bearing system of the structure. The seismic response of the non-retrofitted and the retrofitted finite element models are compared in terms of seismic energy dissipation and displacements diminution.

• Magazine of the Korea Institute for Structural Maintenance and Inspection
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.38-43
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• 2014

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2015

Due to design codes and regulations and the variety of building plans in Turkey, it is very often seen that band-type windows are left for ventilation and lightening of the basements of buildings which are used for various purposes such as workplaces and storage. Therefore when the necessary support measures cannot be given, short columns are subjected to very high shear forces and so damage occurs. One of the precautions to avoid the damage of short column mechanisms in buildings where band-type windows are in the basement is to strengthen the short columns with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). In this study, the effect of the FRP retrofitting process of the short columns around band-windowed structures, which are found especially in basement areas, is analyzed in accordance with Turkish Seismic Code 2007 (TSC 2007). Three different models which are bare frame, frame with short columns and retrofitted short columns with FRP, are created and analyzed according to TSC 2007 performance analysis methods to understand the effects of band windows in basements and the effect of FRP retrofitting.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.231-251
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• 2019

In the present study, a numerical and experimental investigation has been carried out on the seismic behavior of RC columns of a bridge which damaged under corrosive environments and retrofitted by various techniques including combined application of CFRP sheets and steel profiles. A novel hybrid retrofitting procedure, including the application of inner steel profiles and outer peripheral CFRP sheets, has been proposed for strengthening purpose. Seven large-scale RC columns of a Girder Bridge have been tested in the laboratory under the influence of simultaneous application of constant axial load and the lateral cyclic displacements. Having verified the finite element modeling, using ABAQUS software, the effects of important parameters such as the corrosion percentage of steel rebars and the number of CFRP layers have been evaluated. Based on the results, retrofitting of RC columns of the bridge with the proposed technique was effective in improving some measures of structural performance such as lateral strength degradation and higher energy absorption capability. However, the displacement ductility was not considerably improved whereas the elastic stiffness of the specimens has been increased.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.425-436
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• 2019

Successive ground motions having short time intervals have occurred in many earthquakes so far. It is necessary to investigate the effects of this phenomenon on different types of structures and to take these effects into consideration while designing or retrofitting structures. The effects of seismic sequences on the structures with combined reinforced concrete shear wall and moment resisting frame system have not been investigated in details yet. This paper has tried to analyse the seismic performance of structures with such structural systems subjected to mainshock-aftershock sequences. The effects of the seismic sequences on the investigated models are evaluated by strong measures such as IDA capacity and fragility and vulnerability curves. The results of this study show that the seismic sequences have a significant effect on the investigated models, which necessitates considering this effect on designing, retrofitting, decision making, and taking precautions.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.405-416
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• 2023

Recent seismic activities in countries like China and Turkey have underscored the widespread and severe damages that earthquakes can inflict globally. Being situated in a seismically active zone, South Korea can no longer regard itself as immune to earthquake hazards, necessitating the urgent adoption of proactive measures against such threats. The government has been proactive in evaluating, formulating processes, and methods for the seismic retrofitting of public buildings lacking in earthquake resistance. However, enforcement mechanisms for privately-owned apartment complexes are absent, and in the face of insufficient previous research and guidelines, preemptive measures for public safety remain alarmingly inadequate. With over 48% of residential structures in Korea aged over 30 years, and apartment complexes constituting more than 80% of these, the gravity of the situation is undeniable. This study deduces key factors for seismic retrofitting of apartment buildings like earthquake zones, soil type, building significance, aging degree, vulnerability, etc., based on building seismic design codes. It further proposes an algorithm for a more succinct and efficient determination of the priority of seismic reinforcements for apartment buildings.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2012.03a
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• pp.286-292
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• 2012

In recent years, building energy has received much attention and there are many support system to reduce building energy consumption. In addition, It is clear that encouraging to energy efficiency investments can be beneficial to our society, because of the energy supply instability and higher energy price in Korea. Nevertheless, ESCO business, represent the existing building energy retrofit business, hardly has not expanded in Korea. besides, in the case of existing building, it is more difficult to achieve the energy retrofit measures than new building, due to the existing buildings have attributes such as a long life and a lots of energy factor, etc. Therefore, for activate ESCO business and expand ESCO bussiness target to small-to-medium building, it is needed to optimization of retrofitting methods for existing small-to medium buildings in Korea. this research was to derive energy retrofit methods through the energy audit and analysis performed for a small-to-medium building located in Suwon, Korea.