An index-based method for evaluating seismic retrofitting techniques. Application to a reinforced concrete primary school in Huelva

A project named PERSISTAH (Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SISmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva, in Portuguese) is being developed. It aims to cooperatively assess and improve the seismic vulnerability of primary schools in the Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain). A large number of schools have to be analysed. In order to determine which seismic retrofitting technique is optimal, an index-based method is presented in this paper. It considers three parameters: first, the efficiency of the seismic retrofitting technique in relation to the structural improvement obtained; second, the cost of the implementation of the retrofitting technique; and third, the architectural impact. It should be mentioned that a specific measurement for each solution according to its geometry has been performed. Also, coefficients to consider the singularities of each analysis and the importance of the parameters (number of buildings, typology, available funds, etc.) in the study are considered. The most representative primary school of Huelva has been chosen to test the index-based method. The most suitable retrofitting techniques for this type of buildings have been tested. The retrofitting technique which most increased the seismic performance has been the addition of X and V bracings within the building's bays. Furthermore, the analyses have revealed that adding the retrofitting elements in the most vulnerable direction of the building provides a high efficiency. The results have also shown that implementing techniques of lower architectural impact gives acceptable results. The analysis of the mean damage level index has shown that the building would experiment a severe damage. All the retrofitting techniques applied have reduced it, at least, up to moderate damage. Finally, it should be noted that the position of the retrofitting elements is also paramount for providing an optimal retrofitting.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Practical guide for earthquake resilient schools

This guide is intended to be a resource, and not a manual, for increasing the resilience of an educational community, by showing the community what they can do on their own account and how they can strengthen their ability to handle seismic risk (for example, being informed and familiarised with the characteristics that affect the vulnerability of an area in the event of an earthquake, and prepared to protect the students under their tutelage before the earth shakes).POCTEP-INTERREG España-Portugal e Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER); 0313_PERSISTAH_5_P, Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos Sismos no Território do Algarve e de Huelvainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Why does the ground shake?

This manual is designed to support the training of primary school teachers, instructors and technicians, who want to improve their knowledge and develop activities about seismic and tsunami risk. The contents and information of this document come from researches carried out at present, and also as the continuation of other projects in which the author has participated, such as the game "Treme-Treme".POCTEP-INTERREG España-Portugal e Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Por que é que o chão se move?

Foi concebido para apoiar a formação de professores, monitores e técnicos da área educativa do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB), que queiram melhorar os seus conhecimentos e desenvolver atividades sobre o risco sísmico e de tsunami. Os conteúdos e informação contidos neste documento surgem de novas pesquisas agora realizadas, mas também na continuação de outros projectos em que a autora participou, designadamente o jogo sério "Treme-Treme".PERSISTAH, Projectos de Escolas Resilientes aos SIsmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva (0313_PERSISTAH_5_P; Financiado pela Comissão Europeia através do programa EP – INTERREG VA Espanha Portugal (POCTEP)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improving the earthquake resilience of primary schools in the border regions of neighbouring countries

This work summarises the strategy adopted in the European research project PERSISTAH. It aims to increase the resilience of the population, focusing on the existing primary schools in the Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain) regions. Software was developed to assess the seismic safety of these schools, considering different earthquake scenarios. Seismic retrofitting measures were studied and numerically tested. Some of them were also implemented in the retrofitting activities of two case study schools (one in each country). It was found that the adopted ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) considerably affect the results obtained with the software, especially for offshore earthquake scenarios. Furthermore, the results show that the masonry buildings would be the most damaged school typologies for all the scenarios considered. Additionally, a set of guidelines was created to support the school community and the technicians related to the construction industry. The goal of these documents is to increase the seismic resilience of the population. Different activities were carried out to train schoolteachers in seismic safety based on the guidelines produced, obtaining positive feedback from them.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Guia prático escola resiliente aos sismos

Este Guia pretende ser um recurso para aumentar a resiliência da comunidade educativa, mostrando que é possível viver com os sismos e que se tomarmos medidas preventivas os riscos de perdas e ferimentos reduzem bastante. Como uma emergência pode acontecer em qualquer lugar e a qualquer momento, é importante que a comunidade educativa, esteja informada e familiarizada com o que torna um espaço vulnerável em caso de sismo, e se preparem para proteger as crianças sob seus cuidados antes que a terra trema.Projeto PERSISTAH, Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SIsmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva (0313_PERSISTAH_5_P), desenvolvido em conjunto pelas universidades do Algarve e Sevilha e financiado pela Comissão Europeia através do programa EP – INTERREG VA Espanha Portugal (POCTEP).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Projetos de escolas resilientes aos sismos no território do Algarve e de Huelva (PERSISTAH)

O projeto PERSISTAH propõe estudar o risco sísmico das escolas do primeiro ciclo do ensino básico localizadas nas regiões do Algarve (Portugal) e de Huelva (Espanha), dando assim cumprimento aos objetivos das Plataformas Nacionais para a Redução do Risco de Catástrofes (PNRRC) das Comissões Nacionais de Proteção Civil de Portugal e Espanha. O PERSISTAH tem como principais objetivos, melhorar o conhecimento mútuo das realidades das duas regiões, designadamente dos códigos sísmicos de cada país, e sobre as práticas construtivas regionais. Para tal foi criada uma ficha global de recolha de informação sobre as escolas do 1º ciclo (142 no Algarve e 139 em Huelva), que tendo em conta as especificidades das duas regiões. Foi desenvolvido um programa informático para a gestão da segurança sísmica das escolas, composto por três módulos: i) gestão da base de dados das escolas; ii) definição da ação sísmica a considerar; e iii) determinação do grau de dano e o School-Score de cada escola (um sistema de hierarquização do risco sísmico dos edifícios das escolas). Também foram desenvolvidos materiais pedagógicos para as crianças e professores. Os resultados obtidos com o programa informático desenvolvido mostram que os espectros de resposta estabelecidos pelos códigos sísmicos de Portugal e de Espanha são muito diferentes. Além disso, também se observaram diferenças muito significativas em função da lei de atenuação usada.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of Integrated Solutions for the Combined Energy Efficiency Improvement and Seismic Strengthening of Existing URM Buildings

The European building stock is an aging infrastructure, mainly built prior to building codes. Furthermore, 65% of these buildings are located in seismic regions, which need to be both energetic and seismically retrofitted to comply with performance targets. Given this, this manuscript presents integrated constructive solutions that combine both energy efficiency improvement and seismic strengthening. The goal and novelty is to design and to evaluate one-shot, compatible, noninvasive, and complementary solutions applied to the façades of buildings with a minimum cost. To do so, different constraints have been borne in mind: the urban environment, achievable seismic and energy performance targets, and reduced construction costs. The method was applied to an old Spanish neighbourhood constructed in the 1960s. Different retrofitting packages were proposed for an unreinforced masonry case study building. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the effects of each configuration. A benefit/cost ratio was proposed to comparatively assess and to rank the solutions. The results of the seismoenergetic performance assessment showed that improving the behaviour of walls leads to higher benefit ratios than improving the openings. However, this latter strategy generates much lower construction costs. Integrating seismic into energetic retrofitting solutions supposes negligible additional costs but can improve the seismic behaviour of buildings by up to 240%. The optimal solution was the addition of higher ratios of steel grids and intermediate profiles in openings while adding thermal insulation in walls and renovating the window frames with PVC and standard 4/6/4 double glazing

Schools, Seismicity and Retrofitting

The present book aims to present the work developed in the European research project PERSISTAH (Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SISmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva, in Portuguese), which has been developed cooperatively by the University of Seville (Spain) and the University of the Algarve (Portugal). This research project focuses on the study and assessment of the seismic risk of primary education buildings in the territory of the Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain). To this end, the objectives established by the National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction (PNRRC) of the National Civil Protection Commissions of Portugal and Spain have been taken into account.Projeto PERSISTAH, Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SIsmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva (0313_PERSISTAH_5_P), desenvolvido em conjunto pelas universidades do Algarve e Sevilha e financiado pela Comissão Europeia através do programa EP – INTERREG VA Espanha Portugal (POCTEP).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudio y valoración de la vulnerabilidad sísmica de edificios de educación primaria en el Algarve y Huelva: estado del arte

The main objective of this research is the study and assessment of the seismic vulnerability of primary schools in the territory of the Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain). This research will be performed cooperatively, in accordance with the objectives established by the National Platforms for the Reduction of Risk Disasters (PNRRC) of the National Civil Protection Commissions of Portugal and Spain. The Eurasian and African tectonic plates converge close to this geographical area, constituting one of the zones with the highest seismic hazard of the Iberian Peninsula. Primary schools are one of the most vulnerable buildings. Therefore, it is essential to verify and guarantee their structural stability in case of an earthquake. This article presents a review of the seismic hazard in the area and the main initiatives related to the study of the seismic risk for these buildings. This analysis will be focused on the educational typology and the regulations of both countries will be considered. In addition, the methodology that will be developed is presented. This is centered on the development of diagnostic and evaluation tools for the typologies to obtain a classification of their earthquake vulnerability. According to this classification, measures will be proposed for the treatment and rehabilitation of these buildings. Moreover, it will be applied to the cases with more unfavorable behavior to optimize the designed solutions.El objetivo principal de este trabajo de investigación es el estudio y valoración del riesgo sísmico de edificios de educación primaria en el territorio de El Algarve (Portugal) y Huelva (España) de forma cooperativa, de acuerdo con los objetivos establecidos por las Plataformas Nacionales para la Reducción del Riesgo de Catástrofes (PNRRC) de las Comisiones Nacionales de Protección Civil de Portugal y España. Cerca de esta zona geográfica, convergen las placas tectónicas euroasiática y africana, constituyendo por ello, una de las áreas con mayor peligrosidad sísmica de la Península Ibérica. La tipología de edificios de educación primaria es una de las más vulnerables, haciendo imprescindible comprobar y garantizar su estabilidad estructural frente a un terremoto. El presente artículo realiza una revisión de la peligrosidad sísmica en la zona objeto de estudio, las principales iniciativas relativas al estudio del riesgo sísmico de edificios, centrando este análisis en la tipología objeto de estudio y en la normativa de aplicación en ambos países. Además, presenta la metodología que se desarrollará para alcanzar este objetivo que consiste en el desarrollo de herramientas de diagnóstico y evaluación de las tipologías para la obtención de una clasificación de la vulnerabilidad de los edificios ante el sismo. Según esta clasificación, se propondrán medidas de tratamiento y rehabilitación de los edificios que será aplicada al caso con un comportamiento más desfavorable para optimizar las soluciones proyectadas