72789 - Structural Strengthening & Rehabilitation

Learning outcomes

The course encompasses several topics all of them useful in the diagnosys, evaluation, calculation and design of repair systems of existing structures acted on by environmental or man made damages.

The lectures try to connect a broad range of theoretical information into the practical planning and dimensioning of retrofit and strengthening works.

Some very special lectures are devoted to the practical explanation of the use and interpretation of non destructive experimental tests in the callibration of the material parameters of existing structures.

Several aspects of the use of innovative fibre reinforced materials are dealt with in view of the establishment of design rules and application issues.

Course contents

The course topics are listed below:

Analysis of masonry historical and monumental buildings:

• Mechanical properties of masonry constituents: bricks, stones, mortar, natural materials,
• Mechanics of masonry composite materials: compressive, tensile and shear strength,
• Analysis of masonry elements as no tension materials,
• The masonry pier, the lintel beam, the masonry wall,
• Analytical methods for the calculation of the masonry structure,
• Limit analysis method for the out of plane overturning of the masonry wall,
• Numerical analysis of masonry structures: construction of pushover curves,
• Numerical models: plate elements, frame elements and reticular analogy,
• Vaulted structures: groin, barrel and dome vaults,
• Timber beams and timber frames for floors and roofs,
• NDT investigation of masonry and timber materials,
• Examples of damaged buildings of L’Aquila city.

Use of innovative composite materials for special structural problems:

• Fiber reinforced composite materials (FRP),
• Repair and strengthening of R/C structures with FRP,
• Repair and seismic enhancement of timber and masonry structures,
• Innovative constructions with advanced polymer composites,
• Examples of damaged masonry buildings repair and strengthening.

  Fire Engineering:

• The fire event: causes, evolution and thermo – mechanical effects,
• Effect of high temperature on steel, concrete and timber,
• Design of steel structures with passive fire resistance,
• Theromechanical damage of concrete,
• NDT investigation of damaged concrete,
• Repair of fire damaged concrete structures,
• Examples of industrial buildings repair case histories.

Readings/Bibliography

The course is based on approximately 60 hours of classroom activity and 120 hours of personal study, including example solving, guidelines reading and Power Point presentations of real case histories.

All the study material is in form of PDF files downlodable through the University website.

Teaching methods

In the module particular emphasis will be given to the practical application of the various design and detailing methods; the treatment includes hints for the critical comparison of the factors capable to produce defects and malfunctioning of the foundation systems.

The practical part of the course includes the discussion of several real structures at the light of the proposed analytical and numerical tools. The students are allowed to use codes and programs for the non-linear analysis of masonry, timber and concrete structures.

The widening of the course themes is promoted by means of the preparation of short theses focused on topics selected by the students on a personal basis; these documents are evaluated in order to define the final examination grade.

Assessment methods

The exam is carried out in oral form by appointment. The student has the opportunity of preparing a design example of strengthening interventions which will be discussed in the exam.

Some further questions will be posed in order to ascertain the preparation bot theoretical and as design skill.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Benedetti