ABSTRACT
Framed systems are extensively used for building structures in earthquake-prone regions because of their seismic performance. However, a number of existing reinforced concrete (RC) framed building structures, were designed for gravity loads only and hence do not possess adequate lateral stiffness and resistance; seismic detailing is also lacking. It is, therefore, of paramount importance to retrofit such existing building framed structures and enhance their seismic performance. A number of intervention schemes, either traditional or innovative, are available (e.g. Soong and Spencer, 2002; Christopoulos and Filiatrault, 2006), as shown pictorially in Figure 1. Framed structures may be retrofitted by using diagonal braces, either traditional steel or innovative (Di Sarno and Elnashai, 2002). Braced systems exhibit high lateral stiffness and strength under moderate-to-large magnitude earthquakes.
