As cities grow older they inherit a wealth of buildings that have economic, functional and heritage values and yet their uses may need to change, human knowledge is enhanced and thus their vulnerability to extreme events are better understood and sometimes changes may need to be made in their structure to adapt to new uses. In all of these cases, structural engineers are called upon to make an assessment of the current condition of the structure and to advise on what type of intervention is needed to ensure safety, functionality, and economy of such alterations. The purpose of the course is to provide participants with a fundamental and practical understanding of condition assessment of concrete structures and concrete repair and strengthening methods.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

Have an overview of the types of motivations for evaluation of existing concrete structures and to outline the processes to be followed to make such evaluations. Such motivations range from the need to change the use or re-plan to the situation where signs of distress in those buildings are detected
Learn that evaluations of existing structures start with understanding the new criteria in which the structure is to be measured against and is then followed by testing of the existing properties which in turn is followed by analysis to determine whether the set criteria are met. Where a residential building is to be used as offices, new live loads will need to be investigated. Where new statistical data is available on the maximum wind speed or maximum snow accumulation, assessment of existing buildings may reveal some shortcomings. Most importantly, a ramification of seismic events is now understood more than ever before and the need to assess the resistance of old buildings is evident in many developed countries and other countries where catastrophic losses have been experienced. The course covers the processes required to evaluate and retrofit vulnerable buildings.
Know that the marine environment is another situation where deterioration of buildings may be expedited by the presence of chloride and wetting and drying cycles. Inspection of buildings that are exposed to such severe effects is discussed in the course with recommendations for repair and the production of durable concrete
Gain solutions using traditional materials such as steel and concrete are discussed. This discussion is followed by the examination of new materials. These will include the use of carbon fibers, epoxies, and various admixtures

Who Should Attend?

This course is intended for Design Structural Engineers, Supervision Engineers, Construction Engineers, Material Engineers, Maintenance Engineers, and Technicians and Inspectors responsible for the integrity of reinforced concrete structures.

Course Outlines:

Introduction Structural evaluation of buildings for:

For the purposes of change in use
For the addition of floors or other structural changes
Due to apparent signs of distress
Cracks in buildings
Types of cracks, early thermal shrinkage, drying shrinkage, and thermal cracks
Inspection and diagnosis
Repair of cracks, material, and system
Monitoring of cracks

Seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings
Seismic vulnerability of buildings Seismic strengthening of existing buildings
Cost, functional and aesthetic considerations
Retrofitting of the structural system by enhancing strength and continuity
Decreasing demand for an existing system
Rehabilitation of nonstructural elements

Retrofitting using steel and concrete
Use of plates with bolts and/or epoxy fixing
Jacketing of columns
Use of new technologies such as carbon fibers and resin
Application to enhance flexure and shear
Use as column confinement
ACI requirements for the evaluation of existing structures
Analysis of buildings using available information
Report writing

Foundation movement inspection and interpretation
Options for intervention: direct and indirect
The underpinning of building structures
Chemical attacks
Chloride attack
Sulfate attack
Carbonation
The mechanism, perpetuation, mitigation, and repair
Marin environment
The durability of concrete as influenced by the used material and systems

Repair of historic and heritage buildings
High level of uncertainty
Constraints on available retrofitting systems: reversibility is a must
Changed use of a building
New and more stringent snow load requirement
Archeological site

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