Seismic and energy renovation of RC-framed buildings with cross-laminated timber panels equipped with innovative friction dampers

In the European seismic countries, most of the building stock is highly energy-intensive and earthquake-prone since it was built before the enforcement of effective energy and seismic codes. In these countries, renovation actions that synergically integrate both energy-efficient and anti-seismic interventions are strongly needed, looking at the resilience of buildings against earthquakes as one of the main values of a sustainable city. In this framework, this book reports a doctoral research work that was aimed at investigating a novel integrated retrofit technology for RC-framed buildings, that is able to specifically meet the needs of quick installation, reduced users’ disturbance, and low environmental impact. This retrofit technology consists in cladding the existing building envelope with a new prefabricated timber-based external shell that acts as seismic-resistant and energy-efficient skin, contributing also to renovate the architectural image of the building. The seismic technology that drives this intervention is especially based on the use of structural CLT panels which are connected to the RC frame of the building by means of innovative friction dampers. The friction damper has been conceived to meet the needs of structural, technological, and industrial efficiency, in order to increase the potential commercial success of the damper and make it more widely applicable. The doctoral research work was thus aimed at exploring the potentiality of this integrated retrofit technology in terms of seismic performance, energy efficiency, and technical feasibility, considering the synergical correlation among the scientific areas that are involved as main point for the success of the intervention.