Abstract
A new seismic retrofitting technique using compressive bracings for existing R/C frames with soft story was experimentally tested. The bracing is composed of steel pipe in-filled high-strength mortar and its ends are designed to resist compressive bracing without tensile resistance. These make the conductivity of the seismic retrofit easier, the cost of works lower and the time of works shorter. Experimental testes were carried out to evaluate the reinforcing effect. Three strengthening specimens with the bracings and, for comparison, a non-strengthening specimen were constructed with a 1/5 dimensional scale factor. All specimens were tested under inelastic reversal loading. Test results indicated that the soft story was successfully seismic retrofitted, and that the lateral strength increased by approximately twice that of the non-strengthening frame. Test results also showed that the governing failure mechanism in the soft story was successfully shifted from a column sidesway mechanism to a total collapse mechanism.
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