Seismic Performance of RC Frames Retrofitted with Bracing: A Review and Model-Based Evaluation

Reinforced concrete buildings are vulnerable to a wide range of damage induced due to seismic activities. If left unattended, these issues compromise the structural integrity and service life of the building. Seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete structures is a crucial engineering practice that enhances their resilience against earthquake-induced forces. One of the widely adopted retrofitting techniques is the incorporation of steel bracing systems. Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of steel bracing in enhancing the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures, particularly in reducing lateral displacements and minimizing structural damage during seismic events. This paper deals with a review of seismic evaluation and strengthening of reinforced concrete structures using steel braces as a retrofitting measure. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a G+9-story structure located in seismic zone IV using STAAD Pro software to determine the most effective brace configuration. A 24 m × 24 m building with six 4 m bays was modelled and analysed using the response spectrum method as per IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016. First, an unbraced frame was analysed as a base model. later, braces with different configurations were added to the peripheral frame. The braced frame results were compared to the unbraced frame, and results aligned with some major studies conducted in the past. Analysis results mainly indicate that X-braced frames perform well in terms of storey drift, stiffness enhancemen.t, lateral force reduction, frequency improvement, and period reduction.