The demand for upgrading and retrofitting structures to meet current seismic standards is increasing and there is a pressing need for codes of practice and methodologies to guide engineers in this large task. Generally, current building codes do not address repair and strengthening problems and the success of repair and strengthening schemes is highly dependent on the experience of the engineer as well as the overall construction quality process. This research project will address specific topics related to the strengthening of reinforced concrete frame structures. These topics include shear-transfer problems associated with jacketing existing concrete members with new concrete, increasing the strength and ductility of moment-resisting frames by providing a system of steel braces to resist earthquake loads, improving the performance of frames with weak beams and weak columns by jacketing the members, and providing the lateral resistance by infilling single bays of frame structures.
