A new method for strengthening of precast industrial structures

Abstract

1998 Ceyhan and 1999 Marmara Earthquakes causes extensive damages of the precast industrial structures. This type of structures is important economically. They do not have enough lateral rigidity, lateral load capacity and a rigid diaphragm. Several strengthening techniques have been applied to those type of structures. However, minimization of the disturbance during the strengthening of these structures is an important research issue as considerable economic losses are to be happen while building remains out-of-service. In this study, effectiveness of the strengthening with external shear walls and rigid diaphragm is investigated experimentally. A typical precast concrete frame and a strengthened structure with proposed method are tested under reversed cyclic loads. Experiments showed that proposed method improves lateral stiffness, base shear capacity and provides an efficient diaphragm behavior to the structure.