Strengthening reinforced concrete frames with traditional shearwalls and precast panels

In this study, the strengthening of inadequate reinforced concrete frames with conventional cast-in-situ reinforced concrete shearwalls and precast reinforced concrete panels were investigated by experimental and numerical studies. A total of 8 single bay, single storey and 1/3 scale reinforced concrete frame samples were produced. The samples were produced to reflect the common deficiencies mostly observed in earthquake non-resistant structures. One of the test samples was not strengthened and was determined as a reference. Three of the samples were strengthened with conventional cast-in-situ reinforced concrete shearwalls. One of these shearwalls is without openings and the other two have openings that represent architectural and installation openings frequently encountered in practice. In order to experimentally and numerically investigate the effectiveness of the opening reinforcement detail in the Turkish Building Earthquake Code-2018, one of the opening shearwalls has an opening reinforcement while the other has no opening reinforcement. In the second stage of the study, the reinforcement method with precast reinforced concrete panels was discussed. This method which stands out with its economical, fast, reliable and functional features that can be applied in all structures, especially public buildings and industrial structures, which cannot be evacuated and require service continuity is an innovative reinforcement. In this context, 4 inadequate reinforced concrete frame samples were strengthened with precast reinforced concrete panels. All samples were tested with cyclic-reversible loading lateral loading simulating the earthquake effect. By processing the test data, load-displacement curves, load history, displacement history, ductility, rigidity, energy consumption, strength reduction coefficient and moment-rotation curves of the samples were obtained. Within the scope of numerical studies, all samples were analyzed by creating finite element models in the Abaqus CAE program. In the last part, the experimental and numerical results obtained were evaluated and suggestions were made.