Structural optimisation problem in support to building retrofitting decision

• Author(s): Varum, H. ; Costa, A. ; Pinto, A.
• Date: 2005
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/8280
• Origin: RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro
• Subject(s): Optimum strengthening; Performance based design; Existing RC buildings
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

Various analysis methods, either linear elastic or non-linear, static or dynamic, are available for the performance analysis of existing buildings. Despite its advantages, it must be admitted that non-linear time history analysis can frequently become overly complex and impractical for general use as a first assessment. Simplified models, as the Capacity Spectrum Method, are frequently not able to accurately assess irregular structures. Considering these limitations, it is proposed and evaluated a simplified MDOF non-linear dynamic model, accounting for non-linear storey behaviour and storey damping. Based on the MDOF non-linear dynamic model, were developed optimization algorithms for the redesign of existing non-seismically designed structures. The optimization procedure searches for the optimum storey strengthening distribution (strength, stiffness or damping) in order to meet specific performance requirements, in terms of maximum inter-storey drift for a given seismic demand level. Numerical examples are presented in order to illustrate the capability of methodology.