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Keywords

Seismic retrofitting, cost-benefit analysis, reinforced concrete, nonlinear dynamic analysis, pushover analysis

Document Type

Research Article

Abstract

Many existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings were constructed without considering seismic design, resulting in inadequate earthquake resistance. Irregular RC buildings, with their stiffness inconsistency, soft-story conditions, and plan asymmetries, are particularly vulnerable to seismic forces, often experiencing significant inter-story drifts and torsional effects. Addressing the critical need for cost-effective seismic retrofitting of irregular RC buildings in regions with high seismicity and limited resources, this study proposes a cost-benefit analysis framework to evaluate different retrofitting methods, namely RC jacketing, steel bracing, and a combination of both. A three-story, irregular RC building constructed before 1980 was selected as the case study. Both nonlinear static and dynamic analysis methods were employed to evaluate the seismic performance of the retrofitted building. Structural performance was evaluated in terms of base shear capacity and deformation limits, while the cost-benefit analysis considered retrofit costs and projected seismic loss reductions over 20 years, utilising fragility curves and net present value (NPV). Results indicate that the combined method yields the greatest structural performance improvement but incurs the highest cost. Steel bracing provides substantial enhancement at the lowest cost and achieves the most favourable NPV, making it the most cost-effective option among the evaluated strategies. The findings underscore the importance of considering both performance and economic factors when selecting retrofitting strategies for seismically vulnerable irregular RC buildings

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Publication Date

31-12-2025

First Page

11

Last Page

25

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