As cities age, they acquire a significant number of buildings that hold economic, functional, and historical importance. However, the purposes of these buildings may require modifications as human knowledge advances and our understanding of their vulnerability to extreme events improves. In some instances, changes to the structure may be necessary to accommodate new uses. Structural engineers play a crucial role in assessing the current condition of these buildings and providing recommendations on the type of intervention required to ensure their safety, functionality, and cost-effectiveness during such alterations.

Course Objectives:

This short course is intended to overview the types of motivations for the 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. 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. Marin 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. 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?

Any civil engineer with an interest in learning about the rehabilitation of building structures may attend and the course and benefit from it. The variety of topics being discussed shall enhance the interest of many professionals and civil engineers in managerial posts. It is foreseen that individuals from the following backgrounds may attend:

Design structural engineers
Supervision engineers
Building authorities officers and regulators
Project Managers
Civil engineers in major corporations where building maintenance is an essential task
Construction engineers
Each may make the best of the experience in his or her way

Course Outlines:

Structural evaluation of buildings

For the purposes of change in use
For addition of floors or other structural changes
Due to apparent signs of distress

Cracks in building

Types of cracks, early thermal shrinkage, drying shrinkage, and thermal cracks
Inspection and diagnosis
Repair of cracks, material, and system
Monitoring of cracks
Testing of concrete in the structure
Destructive tests: cores and pull-outs
Nondestructive tests: Rebound hammer, penetration resistance, and UPV

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
Case studies
Changed use of a building
New and more stringent snow load requirement
Archeological site
Closing session and handing of certificates

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