This project is supported under NSF Announcement No. 90-23, "Repair and Rehabilitation Research for Seismic Resistance of Structures." The two primary goals of this research project are the evaluation of: 1) the lateral strength and drift capabilities of older reinforced concrete slab-column frame buildings and 2) the use of ductile steel bracing for seismic upgrading of such structures. This research is intended to contribute to a methodology for evaluating the lateral strength and deformation capacity of older slab-column concrete frame structures which are located in regions of potentially high seismic activity, but were not designed and detailed for significant lateral strength and ductility. This will be achieved by conducting laboratory tests of a 2 bay by 1 bay 2-story reinforced concrete slab- column frame specimen. Design criteria will be developed for strengthening such structures with ductile steel bracing members. These tests should make a significant contribution to the small amount of information now available on the lateral load behavior of concrete frame structures strengthened with steel bracing members.
