Abstract
Abstract. The strength and rigidity of most reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in Turkey, which are frequently hit by destructive earthquakes, is not at a sufficient level. Therefore, the result of earthquakes is a significant loss of life and property. The strengthening method most commonly preferred for these type of RC buildings is the application of RC infilled walls (shear walls) in the frame openings of the building. However, since the whole building has to be emptied and additional heavy costs arise during this type of strengthening, users prefer not to strengthen their buildings despite the heavy risk they are exposed to. Therefore, it is necessary to develop easier-to-apply and more effective methods for the rapid strengthening of housing and the heavily-used public buildings which cannot be emptied during the strengthening process (such as hospitals and schools). This study empirically analyses the different methods of a new system which can meet this need. In this new system, named "external shear wall application", RC shear walls are applied on the external surface of the building, along the frame plane rather than in the building. To this end, 7 test samples in 1/2 and 1/3 geometrical scale were designed to analyse the efficiency of the strengthening technique where the shear wall leans on the frame from outside of the building (external shear wall application) and of the strengthening technique where a specific space is left between the frame and the external shear wall by using a coupling beam to connect elements (application of external shear wall with coupling beam). Test results showed that the maximum lateral load capacity, initial rigidity and energy dissipation behaviours of the samples strengthened with external shear wall were much better than those of the bare frames.
Highlights
reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall application is the most preferred method in the strengthening process of the RC buildings having low earthquake behaviour, which is a process that started with the 1992 Erzincan earthquake and intensified after the 1999 Marmara earthquake
This study analysed the changes observed in the behaviours of the RC frames after they were strengthened with external shear walls with and without coupling beams
The tests give an overview of the structural behaviour of bare frames and strengthened frames with external RC-SW
Summary
RC shear wall application is the most preferred method in the strengthening process of the RC buildings having low earthquake behaviour, which is a process that started with the 1992 Erzincan earthquake and intensified after the 1999 Marmara earthquake. Success of the strengthening via external shear wall equipped with a coupling beam depends on the effectiveness of the anchorage bars connecting the frame and strengthening elements. Tests required a loading method which could reveal debonding effects on the anchorage bars To this end, the plates, fixed on the grooved irons placed on the existing frame before the concrete pouring process, were connected to the main loading system. As shown by the curves, the application of external shear wall equipped with coupling beam significantly increased the lateral load capacity and energy dissipation capacity of the frame. As can be understood from energy graphics, when compared to bare frames, the specimens strengthened with external shear wall (equipped with coupling beam) dissipated 3.41 to 5.66 times more energy. The construction of a shear wall higher (as much as the anchorage depth) than the frame will prevent possible debonding
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