• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.83-91
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• 2021

In this study, to improve the connection performance between the existing reinforced concrete (R/C) frame and the strengthening member, we proposed a new H-section steel frame with elastic pad (HSFEP) system for seismic rehabilitation of existing medium-to-low-rise reinforced concrete (R/C) buildings. This HSFEP strengthening system exhibits an excellent connection performance because an elastic pad is installed between the existing structure and reinforcing frame. The method shows a strength design approach implemented via retrofitting, to easily increase the ultimate lateral load capacity of R/C buildings lacking seismic data, which exhibit shear failure mechanism. Two full-size two-story R/C frame specimens were designed based on an existing R/C building in Korea lacking seismic data, and then strengthened using the HSFEP system; thus, one control specimen and one specimen strengthened with the HSFEP system were used. Pseudodynamic tests were conducted to verify the effects of seismic retrofitting, and the earthquake response behavior with use of the proposed method, in terms of the maximum response strength, response displacement, and degree of earthquake damage compared with the control R/C frame. Test results revealed that the proposed HSFEP strengthening method, internally applied to the R/C frame, effectively increased the lateral ultimate strength, resulting in reduced response displacement of R/C structures under large scale earthquake conditions.