A Pushover Seismic Analysis and Retrofitting Method Applied to Low-Rise RC School Buildings

Abstract

The proposed method, called the Taiwan Earthquake Assessment for Structures by Pushover Analysis (TEASPA), is a modified capacity spectrum method developed in the NCREE handbook after the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake. In this study, the evaluation of TEASPA is carried out using results from an experimental campaign comprised of two pushover tests inlow-rise reinforced concrete (RC) school buildings and the ASCE 41 capacity spectrum method. In addition, three problems related to retrofitting design are also discussed. Those are the removal of short columns in the structure, the optimal selection of the RC jacketing's position, and waterproofing problems in the RC jacketing method. The base shear-roof displacement curve, peak ground acceleration, and failure mechanism are calculated from each analysis. The results show that TEASPA is capable of providing accurate results for assessing a low-rise RC building's capacity and is more appropriate to pushover tests. Moreover, the solutions related to retrofitting problems are provided.