Application of a retrofit system to improve the seismic and energy performances of RC framed buildings

The need to renovate the existing building stock in earthquake-prone countries is now widely recognized. In this framework, this paper aims at investigating an innovative technology for the seismic, energy and architectural renovation of RC framed buildings. This technology combines the seismic resistance provided by steel trusses with the thermal performance of wood-based panels, which are both applied to the outer building envelope. In this paper, the proposed system is applied to a pilot building located in the city of Bucharest, in Romania, to examine its effectiveness and replicability. The pilot building is a five-storey apartment block located in a suburban neighborhood of the city and representative of many coeval buildings in Bucharest that are energy-intensive and earthquakes-prone since they were built before the enforcement of effective seismic and energy efficiency standards. The proposed retrofit methodology involves designing wood-based prefabricated panels and steel trusses according to criteria of structural strengthening and energy efficiency, standardization in manufacturing process, fast installation, and architectural integration. Furthermore, the parametric modeling in BIM environment of the above-mentioned components enables controlling their size, quantity, manufacturing, cost, and arrangement on the building façade to optimize the construction and installation processes.