Acknowledging the lack of national platform of knowledge and expertise associated with seismic retrofit or rehabilitation of the nation’s multi-storey buildings, a co-jointed research programme, funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Techonlogy (FRST) New Zealand was established at the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury.
This research programme provides solutions addressing the comparative absence of a national platform of knowledge and expertise associated with seismic retrofit or rehabilitation of the nation’s multi-storey buildings. This will be achieved through two research objectives that define retrofit solutions for building classes differentiated by their age and construction materials.
- Objective 1: Retrofit solutions for post-1970s RC buildings
- Objective 2: Retrofit solutions for pre-1970s buildings
Read more in The Structural Engineer (IStructE)
The research project is sub-divided into several research cluster, encompassing several multi-disciplinary research focuses:
- Retrofit Decision Making Tools
- Unreinforced Masonry
- Pre-1970s Reinforced Concrete
- Post-1970s Reinforced Concrete
- Steel & Composite
- Substructure & Foundation
Multi-storey reinforced concrete frame structure with non-ductile detailing and design. Built 1950′s. Picture WY Kam.
Typical low-rise unreinforced masonry structure, predominantly built prior to 1930s. Picture A. Russell.
Project Organisation
The project is led by two principal investigators – Dr Jason Ingham of University of Auckland and Dr Stefano Pampanin of University of Canterbury. In addition, two Objective Leaders (Prof Des Bull – Objective 1 & Dr Stefano Pampanin – Objective 2) will be coordinating the research within the two research objectives. A secondary research task (3) – Retrofit financial analysis, was added to the project, led by Dr Suzanne Wilkinson.
An industry advisory board (Seismic Retrofit Research Board) was formed under the leadership of SESOC (Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand) to provide guidance to the research team in identifying the priorities and needs for seismic retrofit research attention.
Project Research Objectives
The knowledge created in this project will be embodied in a Seismic Retrofit Manual, aimed to be a companion technical guidelines to the current NZSEE document titled “Assessment and Improvement of the Structural Performance of Buildings”. Dissemination of research findings will be achieved through practitioner workshops on “Seismic Retrofit Strategies and Solutions for Existing Buildings: Implementation for New Zealand”. Lastly, the Seismic Retrofit Manual will be used within undergraduate and post-graduate structural engineering courses at both University of Auckland and University of Canterbury.
The major aims of the proposed research program are:
- To develop rational and economical approaches, methodology and practical implementation guidelines for seismic rehabilitation (retrofit) of substandard multi-storey buildings;
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of proposed alternative solutions from a probabilistic life-cycle perspective, accounting for capital outlay for retrofit implementation, plus operation, maintenance, and insurance costs;
- To implement solutions developed within the framework of New Zealand Standards;
- To provide the structural design community with a retrofit design manual having comprehensive guidelines for daily practice.
It is envisioned that the knowledge uptake of the seismic retrofit solutions will provide national benefit through improved community resilience and greater readiness, as seismically retrofitted multi-storey buildings will be safer to occupy during and after a major earthquake. Economic benefit will primarily accrue through prevention of damage to multi-storey buildings and social benefit will result from lives saved.