Pseudodynamic Testing of Buildings Retrofitted with External Steel Reinforced Concrete Frames to Increase Lateral Strength for Earthquake Damage Prevention

Abstract

In this study, a new technique for seismic retrofitting via the attachment of an “external steel reinforced concrete frame” (ESRCF) system was developed to strengthen medium-to-low-rise reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. Two methods (bolting and welding) were developed to connect existing RC frames and external strengthening elements; these methods are technically and practically suited to various construction conditions. The retrofitting method developed in this study can be used to perform seismic strengthening construction, while residents continue to live within the building. The method is categorized as a “strength design approach” implemented via retrofitting, allowing the lateral ultimate load capacity of RC buildings, whose failure mode is shear, to be increased easily. Test specimens were designed based on an existing RC building in Korea lacking seismic data and then strengthened using the ESRCF system. Pseudodynamic and cyclic loading tests were conducted to verify the effects of seismic retrofitting. In total, four RC frame specimens were prepared: one nonstrengthened control specimen for the cyclic loading test, one nonstrengthened control specimen, one specimen strengthened with a welded ESRCF system, and one specimen strengthened with a bolted ESRCF system for the pseudodynamic test. The earthquake response behavior with use of the proposed method, in terms of the maximum response strength, response displacement, and degree of earthquake damage, is compared with a control RC frame. The test results indicated that both the bolting and welding methods used for connecting the existing RC frame to the ESRCF effectively increased the lateral ultimate strength, resulting in reduced response displacement of building structures under large-scale earthquake conditions.