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, thereb...

A new technique for the strengthening of existing R/C shear walls based on the application of very thin high performance jackets is presented in this paper. The strengthening jacket is made of high performance concrete and high strength steel mesh. The experimental study on a 1:3 scale R/C wall, proportioned to resist the vertical loads only, and reinforced by means of a 15 mm thick high perfor...

Experimental or theoretical tests show that dramatically changes of infill area causes soft story mechanism. "Soft story" mechanism is the most frequent failure mode of reinforced concrete (R.C.) structures. This phenomenon is caused by the fact that the overall shear force applied to the building by an earthquake is higher at the base floor. If the lower story is not originally weakened, it is...