Retrofitting Strategies - 32.14.2 | 32. Response of Structures to Earthquake | Earthquake Engineering - Vol 3
Students

Academic Programs

AI-powered learning for grades 8-12, aligned with major curricula

Professional

Professional Courses

Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design

Games

Interactive Games

Fun games to boost memory, math, typing, and English skills

Retrofitting Strategies

32.14.2 - Retrofitting Strategies

Enroll to start learning

You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.

Practice

Interactive Audio Lesson

Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.

Local Retrofitting Methods

🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson

Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson

0:00
--:--
Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Today, we will start by discussing local retrofitting methods. What do you think local methods involve?

Student 1
Student 1

Are those methods focused on specific parts of a structure?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Exactly! For instance, jacketing is when we encase a beam or column with additional material to boost its strength. Can anyone tell me what other methods might fall under local retrofitting?

Student 2
Student 2

What about steel bracing?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Great example! Steel bracing strengthens the frame of the building and provides extra support during tremors. Let's also not forget shear wall insertion, which adds vertical support to resist lateral forces.

Student 3
Student 3

So, do these methods make the buildings more rigid?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Yes, absolutely! They enhance stiffness against seismic loads, making structures much more resilient. Remember this: **‘SIS’ for Structural Integrity Strategies’**; it’s a good mnemonic to recall these methods.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you summarize what we've learned today?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Certainly! We discussed local retrofitting techniques like jacketing, steel bracing, and shear wall insertion, which specifically target and enhance the strength of vulnerable areas in buildings.

Global Retrofitting Methods

🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson

Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson

0:00
--:--
Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Moving on, let's explore global retrofitting methods. Can anyone suggest what these methods might involve?

Student 1
Student 1

Would that be about changes to the overall structure?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Exactly! Global methods look at the structure in its entirety. For example, base isolation allows the building to remain isolated from ground movement. What do you all think of this approach?

Student 3
Student 3

It sounds like it could really minimize damage!

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Correct! This method helps to significantly reduce the energy that reaches the structure. Are there any other global techniques you can think of?

Student 2
Student 2

Energy dissipation devices could be one!

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Yes! These devices absorb seismic energy, thus protecting the building. To help remember, think of **‘IDES’ for Isolate, Dissipate, Enhance Structural resilience.’** It’s a clever mnemonic to recall these strategies.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you sum up this session?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Of course! We covered global retrofitting methods, emphasizing base isolation and energy dissipation devices and how they improve the overall seismic resilience of structures.

Introduction & Overview

Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.

Quick Overview

Retrofitting strategies involve various methods to enhance the structural integrity of existing buildings against seismic forces.

Standard

This section discusses both local methods, like jacketing and steel bracing, and global methods, such as base isolation and energy dissipation devices, emphasizing the importance of retrofitting for maintaining safety in older structures and those previously designed without modern seismic considerations.

Detailed

Retrofitting Strategies in Seismic Design

Retrofitting is essential for enhancing the resilience of existing structures against seismic forces. Structures designed before modern seismic codes often lack adequate strength, making them vulnerable during an earthquake. This section outlines two main categories of retrofitting strategies:

  1. Local Methods: These are localized interventions targeting specific areas of a structure to improve their seismic performance. Key examples include:
  2. Jacketing: Strengthening of existing structural elements, such as columns and beams, by encasing them in additional material like concrete or steel. This increases the load-bearing capacity and reduces vulnerability to shear forces.
  3. Steel Bracing: Installation of steel braces diagonally across walls or frames to enhance stiffness and provide additional lateral support during seismic events.
  4. Shear Wall Insertion: Adding new shear walls to increase the overall stability of a building and help resist lateral forces during earthquakes.
  5. Global Methods: These strategies consider the overall behavior of a structure as a whole and may involve fundamental alterations. Examples include:
  6. Base Isolation: A technique that separates the building from ground motion, allowing it to move independently and significantly reducing seismic forces transmitted to the structure.
  7. Energy Dissipation Devices: Technologies incorporated into the structure that absorb and dissipate seismic energy during an earthquake, helping to reduce the movement experienced by the structure.

The effectiveness of these retrofitting strategies depends on thorough evaluations of existing structures, considering their unique characteristics and the potential seismic demands they may face in the future.

Audio Book

Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.

Local Methods of Retrofitting

Chapter 1 of 2

🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter

Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience

0:00
--:--

Chapter Content

Local methods include: Jacketing, steel bracing, shear wall insertion.

Detailed Explanation

Local retrofitting methods are techniques applied to specific parts or elements of a structure to enhance its strength and seismic performance. Here are some common local methods:
1. Jacketing: This involves adding additional concrete or steel around existing columns or beams. By thickening these elements, their stiffness and strength are increased, which helps them resist earthquake forces more effectively.
2. Steel Bracing: This technique adds diagonal braces made of steel to frames, which helps in resisting lateral forces during seismic events. The braces work by providing additional structural support and preventing excessive sway or movement.
3. Shear Wall Insertion: Inserting shear walls into buildings that did not originally have them helps to bolster the structure against lateral forces. Shear walls, which are vertical walls that provide strength and stability, are effective in distributing seismic loads.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a weakened rope bridge that sways dangerously during a storm. By adding extra cables (similar to bracing) and reinforcing the key support pillars (like jacketing), the bridge can better withstand the wind's forces. Just like these reinforcements help stabilize the bridge, local retrofitting methods strengthen specific parts of a building against earthquakes.

Global Methods of Retrofitting

Chapter 2 of 2

🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter

Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience

0:00
--:--

Chapter Content

Global methods include: Base isolation, energy dissipation devices.

Detailed Explanation

Global retrofitting methods address the entire structure rather than focusing on individual elements. Here are two common global methods:
1. Base Isolation: This technique involves placing a flexible bearing or isolation pad at the base of a structure. The pad allows the building to move independently from ground movements, significantly reducing the forces transferred to the building during an earthquake. This is like placing a cork under a heavy book, allowing the book to move without being affected by vibrations on the table.
2. Energy Dissipation Devices: These devices are incorporated into buildings to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by seismic forces. Examples include damping systems that convert kinetic energy into heat, thereby reducing the forces on the structures. This method allows buildings to 'breathe' during an earthquake, mitigating the impact of vibrations.

Examples & Analogies

Think of dancing on a trampoline during a concert. The trampoline absorbs a lot of the jumping and swaying motion, allowing you to enjoy the concert without falling over. Similarly, base isolation and energy dissipation devices act like that trampoline, helping buildings absorb seismic energy and remain stable during earthquakes.

Key Concepts

  • Local Methods: Target specific structural elements to enhance their strength.

  • Global Methods: Consider the entire structure's response to seismic forces.

  • Base Isolation: Isolates a building from ground motion for better stability.

  • Energy Dissipation: Devices that absorb seismic energy to enhance safety.

Examples & Applications

An example of jacketing involves adding concrete around existing columns in older buildings to increase their shear strength.

A structure retrofitted with base isolation can remain unscathed during seismic events while traditional buildings suffer damage.

Memory Aids

Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts

🎵

Rhymes

Base isolation promotes peace; shake the ground, and still, it will cease.

📖

Stories

Imagine a tower on springs; during an earthquake, it dances but never breaks.

🧠

Memory Tools

Use ‘BRACE’ to remember: 'Building Resilience Against Calamitous Events'.

🎯

Acronyms

Use ‘EASE’ to remember Energy Absorbing Systems for Enhancement.

Flash Cards

Glossary

Jacketing

A retrofitting technique that involves encasing existing structural elements like beams or columns with additional material to enhance strength.

Steel Bracing

A method that uses steel braces to provide additional support to structures, enhancing their ability to withstand lateral forces during earthquakes.

Shear Wall Insertion

The addition of new shear walls into a structure to improve its lateral stability and resistance to seismic loads.

Base Isolation

A retrofitting technique that decouples a building from ground motion, allowing it to move independently to reduce the effects of seismic forces.

Energy Dissipation Devices

Systems integrated into buildings to absorb and dissipate seismic energy, enhancing the structure's overall performance during an earthquake.

Reference links

Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.