Retrofit of a RC Building Against Seismic and Progressive Collapse Using Steel Bracing and Cabling

The retrofit of a RC hospital building using low impact strengthening techniques based on steel bracing and cabling is illustrated in the paper. A preliminary investigation of the seismic performance capability of the building has been made, in such a way to address the possibility to improve the earthquake protection together with structural robustness. Out of the possible low impact structural solutions, the ones relying on steel concentric braces and catenary cables have been considered and analyzed in detail. The proposed solutions are critically examined as to parameters like ease of implementation, global impact on the construction, and intervention reversibility. Both seismic and progressive collapse resisting capacity of the retrofitted building are assessed and discussed based on nonlinear static and dynamic analyses.