Precast reinforced concrete building structures are widely used in the Portuguese industrial stock and throughout Europe. Beam-to-column connections are a key component in this type of structure. However, they are also the source of significant damage, as reported in recent earthquakes. Different configurations are common, such as using a dowel, neoprene or just assuming a concrete-to-concrete interface. Both a...
The collapse of the Cypress Street Viaduct during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake raised awareness to the seismic design and detailing of the connections between cap beams and columns. Current standards require a considerable amount of transverse reinforcement inside the joints, leading to reinforcement congestion and constructability problems. Moreover, some design rules are rather unclear and the link to the ...
Precast structures are more common in zones not affected by earthquakes or affected by low - to moderate-intensity earthquakes; the application of precast structures in zones of higher seismic intensity is unusual due to the seismic performance uncertainty of these structures. Concerning precast bridges, special attention needs to be paid on the column to cap-beam connections, as well as the methods to anchor t...
The article presents the results of a testing campaign that was carried out to validate the effect of ETICS and seismic plus energy retrofitting techniques on the flexural strength of full-scale masonry brick walls. The study highlights the importance of retrofitting techniques that can improve the energy efficiency and seismic safety of existing buildings, a growing global concern. Based on this motivation, a ...
The renovation and refurbishment of existing envelopes of existing RC buildings are usually performed, focusing only on improving their structural or thermal energy characteristics. However, international concern about the sustainability and resilience of existing building structures demands the rethinking of retrofitting techniques that tackle both aspects simultaneously, making the envelopes more energy effic...
Seismic hazard assessment in several sites worldwide depends on two or more seismic sources. Many countries affected by subduction zones have strong motions earthquakes originated in at least two important seismic sources. In Mexico, interplate earthquakes (subduction process) have epicenters located in the Pacific coast with hypocenter depths less than 45 km and intraplate earthquakes (intermediate-depth earth...
The definition of damage states for structural and non-structural elements is necessary to support the seismic vulnerability analyses and identify the most vulnerable elements that need to be retrofitted. The studies related to masonry infill walls focused on multiple experimental studies to characterize their in-plane and/or out-of-plane (OOP) behaviour. Some codes have already proposed damage states for mason...
In order to perform a correct and efficient rehabilitation of old building, it is required to know the materials used, their main properties as well as the construction process. Tabique Walls (TW) are primary building components of many constructions in the historic center of Viseu and their function, in addition to being used as partitioning elements (the most common in Portugal), is to be part of the main str...
Currently, the upgrade of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings focuses only on energy retrofitting measures due to the current policies promoted in the scope of the European Green Deal. However, the structural deficiencies are not eliminated, leaving the building seriously unsafe despite the investment, particularly in seismic-prone regions. Moreover, the envelopes of existing RC buildings are responsibl...
The existing infilled reinforced concrete (RC) buildings' poor energy performance is responsible for a significant part of the energy consumption in the European Union (EU). In addition, recent earthquakes showed the seismic vulnerability of the existing RC buildings that were not designed according to modern codes, where several casualties, collapses, and economic losses were reported. Around 40% of the EU bui...