Seismic retrofit of framed structures using a steel frame assembly

This study aimed to develop a seismic retrofit technique using a steel frame which can be easily transported and assembled on site. This enables the retrofit steel frame to be easily attached to an existing structure minimizing the unwanted gap between the structure and the steel frame assembly. A one-story one-bay RC frame was tested with and without seismic retrofit using the proposed steel frame to verify the seismic retrofit effect of the proposed system, and an analysis model was developed in Opensees for seismic performance evaluation of a case study soft first-story model structure retrofitted with the developed steel frame assembly. Seismic performance of the model structure was also evaluated considering soil structure interaction effect. The experimental study confirmed that the proposed seismic retrofit system can be applied effectively to improve the seismic performance of framed structures. Time history analysis results of the model structure showed that the proposed steel frame assembly was effective in increasing the seismic load resisting capacity of the soft first-story structure. However more steel frame assemblies were required to satisfy the given performance limit state of the model structure located on weak soil due to the negative soil-structure interaction effect.