Pin-supported walls as seismic retrofit for existing RC frames: feasibility and preliminary design

Abstract The seismic retrofit of the existing building heritage represents an urgent issue to be faced and innovative solutions which allow overcome renovation barriers are needed. In this scenario, pin-supported (PS) walls represent eligible solution, enabling linearization deformation frame along its height inhibiting soft storey collapse mechanisms. PS wall can connected from outside, thereby avoiding disruption occupants or their relocation, acknowledged as main nowadays. Suitability in stock has been investigated herein, particularly case reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, preliminarily focusing on 2D RC frames. paper shows weaknesses strengths solution relation specific features considered buildings. An analytical closed-form formulation is proposed applied a preliminary tool evaluate load distribution after considering first mode vibration retrofitted system. results show that, some conditions, application may detrimental structural response. Along with evaluation effectiveness allows design Finally, series finite element model analyses have carried out for validation purposes showing good agreement between numerical results.