A Novel FRP Retrofit Solution for Improved Local and Global Seismic Performance of RC Buildings: Development of Fragility Curves and Comparative Cost-Benefit Analyses

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a novel capacity-design based retrofit for improving both the local and global behaviour of existing reinforced concrete buildings using fibre-reinforced polymers. The approach was previously tested on beam-column joints and is here extended to the building level. A new fibre-element model for the global retrofit is proposed and validated against full-scale experiments. Non-linear push-over analyses confirm the adequacy of the retrofit and fragility analyses are used to compare it to a simpler local retrofit. Finally, cost-benefit analyses for three levels of seismicity highlight the cost-effectiveness of the global retrofit for moderate to high seismicity.