Application of steel in refurbishment of earthquake-prone buildings

Abstract

Refurbishment of existing buildings has become an increasingly topical issue in recent years. The recent Zagreb earthquake has also increased public awareness about the issue of sensitivity of old buildings to seismic loads. Steel plays a significant role in all aspects of refurbishment as it offers reliable rehabilitation and retrofitting solutions. The paper provides an overview of refurbishment methods with an emphasis on the assessment procedure for existing buildings, and methods for their seismic retrofitting using steel. Solutions that use new steel elements or improve the properties of existing ones are discussed, and some innovative retrofitting systems are highlighted.