Methods of Retrofitting of Building

The following are the most common method of retrofitting a building

1. Adding New Shear Wall
2. Adding Steel Bracing
3. Wall Thickening Technique
4. Base Isolation Technique
5. Mass Reduction Technique

1. Adding New Shear wall :

This is a frequently used technique for retrofitting of a building of non-
ductile reinforced concrete frame buildings.
The elements can be either cast-in-place or pre-cast concrete elements.
New elements preferably are placed at the exterior of the building.
This method is not preferred in the interior of the structure to avoid
interior moldings. A shear wall is stiffer in its principal axis than it is in
the other axis. It is considered as a primary structure which provides
relatively stiff resistance to vertical and horizontal forces acting in its
plane. Under this combined loading condition, a shear wall develops
compatible axial, shear, torsional and flexural strains, resulting in a
complicated internal stress distribution. In this way, loads are
transferred vertically to the building’s foundation.
2. Adding Steel Bracing :

Steel bracing is an effective solution in the retrofitting of buildings when

large openings are required.
Potential advantages due to higher strength and stiffness and opening for
natural light can be provided.
The amount of work is also less so foundation cost may be minimized
and adds much less weight to the existing structure.
When large openings are required, it is an effective solution and potential
advantages due to higher strength and stiffness and less work.
3.Wall Thickening Technique :
The existing walls of a building are added a certain thickness by adding
bricks, concrete, and steel aligned at certain places as reinforcement.
The weight of the wall increases and it can bear more vertical and horizontal
loads.
Also, it is designed under special conditions so that the transverse loads do
not cause sudden failure of the wall.
Rust can be developed on reinforcement if not covered properly by mortar.
4.Base Isolation :
Base isolation is one of the most popular means of protecting a structure against
earthquake forces. It is a collection of structural elements which should substantially
decouple a superstructure from its substructure that is in turn resting on the shaking
ground, thus protecting a building or non-building structure’s integrity. Base isolation is
one of the most powerful tools of earthquake engineering pertaining to the passive
structural vibration control technologies. The isolation can be obtained by the use of
various techniques like rubber bearings, friction bearings, ball bearings, spring systems
and other means. It is meant to enable a building or non-building structure to survive a
potentially devastating seismic impact through a proper initial design or subsequent
modifications. In some cases, application of base isolation can raise both a structure’s
seismic performance and its seismic sustainability considerably.
5.Mass Reduction Technique :
In mass reduction technique, for instance, by removal
of one or more storeys as shown in the figure.
In this method, it is evident that the removal of the
mass will lead to a decrease in the loading, which
will lead to an increase in the required strength.
PURPOSES OF RETROFITTING:
There are the following purposes of retrofitting such as:
1. To make the building safer
2.For damaged buildings
3.Earthquake damaged buildings
4.Earthquake-vulnerable buildings
5.For public safety
6.Structure survivability
7.Structure functionality
 DISADVANTAGES:

ADVANTAGES: There are the following disadvantages such as.

There are the following advantages of retrofitting
such as; 1.Increase in dead load
1. Energy saving 2.High installation cost
2. Better rental income 3.If any indication of corrosion in the
3.Improves comfort
reinforcement, this technique is not useable
4.Higher sale price
4.Chances of erosion are high
5.Higher occupancy
5.Bonding between concrete and steel plates
6.Increase in labor productivity
7.Better return on investment
6.The production of dust causes health hazards

8.Reduces risks to the public.

9.Higher reputation
10.Improves building quality
11.Lower operational cost
12.Greater building durability
13.Improves indoor environmental quality.