Field Test on RC School Building Applying Seismic Retrofit and Evaluation

Field Test on RC School Building Applying Seismic Retrofit and Evaluation

There are various retrofitting methods for reinforced-concrete(RC) school buildings. Most of them can be verified only by numerical analysis and component test in the laboratory. However, the actual efficiency of those retrofitting methods cannot be verified well. Performing a field test with the actual school building is the most direct way to verify those methods. In summer of 2007, NCREE has performed a field test of an old school building of Guanmiao Elementary School which set to be demolished as an experimental specimen of seismic retrofits in Tainan, Taiwan. Based from the past successful experiences of in-situ pushover test, a team composed of NCREE and National Cheng Kung University(NCKU) worked with this project. One original and three retrofitted buildings were tested by static lateral load and pushed until collapse. This project is also under the international collaboration with Mexico to evaluate the adopted post-tendon retrofit. It serves as a new option for retrofitting of school buildings in Taiwan. Because of the uniqueness of this project, many famous academicians from America, Japan and India came to Taiwan specially to make a visit. Results and findings from a series of field tests offer a practical way to retrofit RC school buildings.