Search results for " Retrofitting"

Experimental results of RC columns strengthnened with Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Mortars

2012

The structural behaviour of reinforced concrete columns strengthened with a system made up of fibre nets embedded in an inorganic stabilized cementitious matrix was investigated. Specimens with circular and square cross-section were cast and subjected to monotonic uniaxial compression to investigate the efficiency of a Polypara-phenylene-benzo-bisthiazole (PBO) Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Mortars (FRCM) system in increasing both carrying capacity and ductility. The experimental results show that confinement with PBO fibre produced a noticeable increment in strength and ductility, though the low mechanical ratios of fibre considered were not always able to ensure hardening behaviour up to …

RETROFITTING DETENTION BUILDINGS OF HISTORICAL-CULTURAL INTEREST. A CASE STUDY IN ITALY

2021

Penitentiary buildings in Italy include many buildings of undoubted historical and architectural importance. These have been, or will soon be, subject to structural changes necessary to adapt their spaces to the current regulations of prisons. The idea of punishment itself has changed over the centuries, so it is a physiological necessity to adapt existing buildings accordingly. When, however, such buildings date back centuries, they should not be considered a mere container but a historical testimony rich in meaning for the entire nation. The characteristics of the materials, distribution, and what these buildings have represented for the city should be the object of study and protection, …

Towards a Holistic Approach to Retrofitting: A Critical Review of Stateof-the-art Evaluation Methodologies for Architectural Transformation

2017

The building sector is well known to be responsible for a considerable part of the total European energy consumption. In the endeavor to implement radical reductions, there is an identified potential in addressing the existing building stock through deep renovations. These renovations make up complex, highly interdisciplinary systems. They involve stakeholders across a broad spectrum of disciplines and potentially affect the lives of a large number of occupants. The involved people bring different understandings of value in sustainability into a project and judge the outcome according to this understanding. As a response to this, a number of sustainable assessment methodologies for the buil…

Towards a Holistic Methodology in Sustainable Retrofitting: Theory, Implementation and Application

2017

Sustainability paradigm foresees a balance of energy production and consumption with no, or minimal, negative impact on environment (within the environmental tolerance limits). It gives an opportunity to a country to employ its potentiality of the social and economic activities. An overview of recent researches about building renovation context demonstrates the lack of an appropriate methodology and decision support framework -by compounding the typical challenges of sustainable retrofitting from theory to implement stages- that takes into account the retrofitting projects throughout more comprehensive insights and perspectives. It calls, therefore, for a deep building renovation approach. …

GLOBAL SAVING EVALUATION THROUGH A RETROFITTING ACTION

2014

The paper shows a work that was carried out by the authors as members of the PADesign Company, academic spin off of University of Palermo. Currently, energy retrofit of existing building has become an important goal, because it is now widely recognized that the buildings are one of the main causes of CO2 production and of non-renewable energy consumptions. To act on the energy performance of existing buildings (adapting their performances to those required by regulations) is an important strategy to reduce energy consumptions since they are much more than new buildings. Through the application of innovative technologies and methodologies and the choice of appropriate investments, the retrof…

Increasing the Capacity of Existing Bridges by Using Unbonded Prestressing Technology: A Case Study

2014

External posttensioning or unbonded prestressing was found to be a powerful tool for retrofitting and for increasing the life extension of existing structures. Since the 1950s, this technique of reinforcement was applied with success to bridge structures in many countries, and was found to provide an efficient and economic solution for a wide range of bridge types and conditions. Unbonded prestressing is defined as a system in which the post-tensioning tendons or bars are located outside the concrete cross-section and the prestressing forces are transmitted to the girder through the end anchorages, deviators, or saddles. In response to the demand for a faster and more efficient transportati…

Steel based retrofitting interventions for existing masonry walls: a comparative numerical investigation

2021

Masonry buildings constitute a significant portion of the architectural heritage all over the world, also in regions affected by a high seismic hazard. Since this constructional material is character-ized by lack of tensile strength, as well as small deformation capacity, masonry structures could result hugely damaged if shaken by seismic forces. In order to avoid collapses and reduce struc-tural damage, innovative retrofitting interventions are necessary to improve the seismic behavior of masonry structures. In this context, steel-based techniques could be considered among the most suitable solutions. In fact, by using such a high-performant material, additional strength and ductility may …

Increasing the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams using pretensioned stainless steel ribbons

2017

In this work, the second part of an experimental campaign investigating the efficiency of an alternative retrofitting method for increasing the flexural and/or shear capacity in reinforced concrete beams, based on the use of prestressed stainless steel ribbons and steel angles, is presented and analytically reproduced. This group of tests focuses on the ability of the adopted retrofitting method to improve the shear strength and ultimate deformation of reinforced concrete structural elements. As described in a companion paper, the adopted retrofitting method is alternative to traditional techniques of reinforced concrete retrofitting, being easy to install and usually reversible, and charac…

Nonlinear Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Frames: Safety Evaluation and Retrofitting Techniques

Prevenzione e riabilitazione sismica degli elementi non-strutturali. Vulnerabilità e misure di prevenzione per il patrimonio architettonico del XX se…

2010

Il contenimento dei danni agli elementi non-strutturali, perseguito con un’opportuna cultura della prevenzione già in fase progettuale, pur impegnando risorse in fase di realizzazione o di riabilitazione e di retrofitting, si traduce in un risparmio post-sisma. Inoltre, la funzionalità e l’operatività degli edifici si esplica attraverso il corretto funzionamento degli impianti e la stabilità di arredi, equipaggiamenti, finiture ed opere accessorie. Le tecniche di prevenzione e riabilitazione non possono prescindere dalla qualità realizzativa degli elementi costruttivi quale imprescindibile condizione di sicurezza ed affidabilità, e tradotta come idoneo impiego e consapevole scelta dei mater…