Introduction

Earthquake creates great devastation in terms of life,

money
and failures of structures.
Earthquake Mitigation is an important field of study
from a
long time now.
Seismic Retrofitting is a collection mitigation
techniques for
Earthquake Engineering.
It is of utmost importance for historic monuments,
areas prone
to severe earthquakes and tall or expensive
structures.
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Seismic Retrofitting
Definition
It is the modification of existing structures to make
them
more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion, or
soil
failure due to earthquakes.
The retrofit techniques are also applicable for other
natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, tornadoes,
and
severe winds from thunderstorms.
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When is Seismic Retrofitting Needed ?
The two circumstances are:Earthquake damaged buildings, and
Earthquake-vulnerable buildings(with no exposure
to
severe earthquakes)
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Retrofit Performance Objectives
Public safety only: The goal is to protect human
life, ensuring that
the structure will not collapse upon its occupants or
passersby, and
that the structure can be safely exited. Under severe
seismic
conditions the structure may be a total economic
write-off, requiring
tear-down and replacement.
Structure survivability: The goal is that the
structure, while
remaining safe for exit, may require extensive repair
(but not
replacement) before it is generally useful or
considered safe for
occupation. This is typically the lowest level of
retrofit applied to
bridges.
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Retrofit Performance Objectives (Contd.)
Structure functionality: Primary structure
undamaged and the
structure is undiminished in utility for its primary
application.

Structure unaffected: This level of retrofit is

preferred for
historic structures of high cultural significance.
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Need of Retrofitting in Existing
Earthquake Vulnerable Buildings
Buildings have been designed according to a seismic
code, but the
code has been upgraded in later years;
Buildings designed to meet the modern seismic
codes, but
deficiencies exist in the design and/or construction;
Essential buildings must be strengthened like
hospitals, historical
monuments and architectural buildings;
Important buildings whose services are assumed to
be essential just
after an earthquake like hospitals;
Buildings, the use of which has changed through the
years;
Buildings that are expanded, renovated or rebuilt.
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Problems faced by Structural
Engineers are :Lack of standards for retrofitting methods
Effectiveness of each methods varies a lot depending
upon
parameters like type of structures, material
condition,
amount of damage , etc.
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Basic Concept of Retrofitting
The aim is at (CEB1997):Upgradation of lateral strength of the structure;
Increase in the ductility of the structure
Increase in strength and ductility
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Earthquake Design Philosophy
Under minor but frequent shaking, the main
members of the
building that carry vertical and horizontal forces
should not be
damaged; however building parts that do not carry
load may sustain
repairable damage;
Under moderate but occasional shaking, the
main members may
sustain repairable damage, while the other parts
of the building
may be damaged such that they may even have to
be replaced after
the earthquake; and
Under strong but rare shaking, the main
members may sustain
severe (even irreparable) damage, but the
building should not
collapse.
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Classification of Retrofitting Techniques

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Some Conventional Approaches

Adding New Shear Walls
Frequently used for retrofitting of non
ductile reinforced concrete frame buildings.
The added elements can be either castinplace
or precast concrete elements.
New elements preferably be placed at the
exterior of the building.
Not preferred in the interior of the structure to
avoid interior mouldings.
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Adding Steel Bracings

Fig: RC Building retrofitted by steel bracing
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Some Conventional Approaches (Contd.)

Adding Steel Bracings
An effective solution when large openings are
required.
Potential advantages for the following reasons:
higher strength and stiffness,
opening for natural light,
amount of work is less since foundation cost may
be minimized
adds much less weight to the existing structure
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Adding Shear Walls and Bracings
Fig: Effect of Adding Shear Walls and Bracings
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Some Conventional Approaches (Contd.)
Jacketing (Local Retrofitting Technique)
Most popular method for strengthening of building
columns
Types-1. Steel jacket, 2. Reinforced Concrete
jacket, 3.
Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composite(FRPC) jacket
Purpose for jacketing:
To increase concrete confinement
To increase shear strength
To increase flexural strength
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Jacketing

control technique
Fig: Base Isolated Structures
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Fig: Column Jacketing

Fig: Beam Jacketing

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Retrofit of Structures using Innovative
Materials
Current research on advanced materials has mainly
concentrated
on FRP composites.
Studies have shown that externally bonded FRP
composites
can be applied to various structural members
including
columns, beams, slabs, and walls to improve their
structural
performance such as stiffness, load carrying
capacity, and
ductility.
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Base Isolation (or Seismic Isolation)
Isolation of superstructure from the foundation is
known as
base isolation.
It is the most powerful tool for passive structural
vibration

Concept of Base Isolation

Significantly Increase the Period of the Structure and
the Damping so that the Response is Significantly
Reduced.
Fig: Spectral Response for a Typical Base Isolation
System
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Elastomeric Base Isolation Systems

This is the mostly widely used Base Isolator.
The elastomer is made of either Natural Rubber or
Neoprene.
The structure is decoupled from the horizontal
components of
the earthquake ground motion
A layer with low horizontal stiffness is introduced
between the structure and the foundation.
Fig: Steel Reinforced
Elastomeric Isolators
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Types of Base Isolations

Base isolation systems which uses Elastomeric
Bearings
Base isolation systems with Sliding System
Fig: Elastomeric Isolators
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Sliding Base Isolation Systems

It is the second basic type of isolators.
This works by limiting the base shear across the
isolator
interface.
Fig: Metallic Roller Bearing
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Spherical Sliding Base Isolators
The structure is supported by bearing pads that have
curved surface and low friction.
During an earthquake, the building is free to slide on
the
bearings.
Fig: Spherical Sliding Base Isolator
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million pound design dead plus live load, and a 5

second period.
Fig: Bearing used in Benicia Martinez Bridge (left)
and Benicia Martinez Bridge (right)
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Advantages of Base Isolation
Isolates Building from ground motion
Lesser seismic loads, hence lesser damage to the
structure.
Minimal repair of superstructure.
Building can remain serviceable throughout
construction.
Does not involve major intrusion upon existing
superstructure.
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Friction Pendulum Bearing
These are specially designed base isolators which
works
on the principle of simple pendulum.
It increases the natural time period of oscillation by
causing the structure to slide along the concave
inner
surface through the frictional interface.
It also possesses a re-centering capability.
Fig: Cross-section of Friction Pendulum Bearing
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Disadvantages of Base Isolation

Expensive
Cannot be applied partially to structures unlike other
retrofitting
Challenging to implement in an efficient manner
Allowance for building displacements
Inefficient for high rise buildings
Not suitable for buildings rested on soft soil.
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Seismic Dampers
Seismic Dampers are used in place of structural
elements, like
diagonal braces, for controlling seismic damage in
structures.
It partly absorbs the seismic energy and reduces the
motion of
buildings.
Types:Viscous Dampers (energy is absorbed by
silicone-based fluid
passing between piston-cylinder arrangement),
Friction Dampers (energy is absorbed by
surfaces with friction
between them rubbing against each other), and
Yielding Dampers (energy is absorbed by
metallic components
that yield).
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Viscous Dampers
Fig: Cross-section of a Viscous Fluid Damper
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Friction Pendulum Bearing (Contd.)

Typically, bearings measure 3 feet in dia., 8 inches in
height and weight being
2000 pounds
Benicia Martinez Bridge, California is one of the
largest bridges to date to
undertake a seismic isolation retrofit.
Largest seismic isolation bearings, measuring 13 feet
in diameter, and weighing
40,000 pounds. They have a lateral displacement
capacity of 53 inches, a 5

Tuned Mass Damper(TMD)

It is also known as an active mass damper (AMD) or
harmonic
absorber.
It is a device mounted in structures to reduce the
amplitude of
mechanical vibrations.
Their application can prevent discomfort, damage, or
outright structural failure.
They are frequently used in power transmission,
automobiles and

tall buildings.
Fig: TMD in Taipei 101
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Tuned Mass Damper(TMD) (Contd.)
Taipei 101 has the largest TMD sphere in the world
and weighs 660 metric
tonnes with a diameter of 5.5 metre and costs US$4
million (total structure costs
US$ 1.80 billion).
Fig: TMD in Taipei 101
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Fig: Some Energy Dissipation Devices
Energy Dissipation Devices
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Conclusion
Seismic Retrofitting is a suitable technology for
protection
of a variety of structures.
It has matured in the recent years to a highly reliable
technology.
But, the expertise needed is not available in the
basic level.
The main challenge is to achieve a desired
performance
level at a minimum cost, which can be achieved
through a
detailed nonlinear analysis.
Optimization techniques are needed to know the
most
efficient retrofit for a particular structure.
Proper Design Codes are needed to be published as
code of
practice for professionals related to this field.
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