Seismic Retrofitting of an Existing Structure

Abstract

Many buildings in Albania continue to be designed with the old national standards which are not renewed for more than 30 years. So even the buildings are designed and constructed in recent years. If they are designed according to European Codes for design on earthquake areas, they will be heavily damaged or collapsed. The article gives the analysis and design for adopting a reinforced concrete structure built several years ago with new European Codes that in the near future will become effective even in our country. Initially the article describes the conditions of the existing structure and after that gives the performed nonlinear analysis (adaptive pushover) and structural measures suitable for this type of structure. The analyzed structure is very common in Albania and this study gives recommendations for the methodology of design and the most appropriate strategy of retrofitting these kinds of structures in order to achieve the required level of performance and increase their level of security based on European Codes.