Displacement Based Seismic Assessment ForRetrofitting R.C. Structures

Abstract

The main object of this investigation was to develop a pushover analysis procedure for an existing building in order to define the expected seismic performance and to verify a proposed mathematical equation that calculated the plastic hinge rotations in order to simulate the inelastic behaviour of the building. A series of tests have taken place in the past on the building in question. Based on the results, a critical comparison of the local and global response between the pushover analysis and the experimental data has been made. The analysis results include a clear view of the seismic behaviour, the mechanism of development of plastic hinges, the members and storeys with the maximum vulnerability and the development of the inelastic dissipation mechanism. This paper shows that, during a moderate earthquake, the pushover analysis gives satisfactory results for the global as well as the local response. This paper also shows that, during an intense earthquake, the pushover analysis result only approaches the lower level the experimental local response.