Structural analysis and strengthening of the national youth foundation building in Igoumenitsa, Greece

The current paper presents a structural assessment and
proposals for retrofit of the National Youth Foundation Building, an
existing reinforced concrete (RC) building in the city of Igoumenitsa,
Greece. The building is scheduled to be renovated in order to create a
Municipal Cultural Center. The bearing capacity and structural
integrity have been investigated in relation to the provisions and
requirements of the Greek Retrofitting Code (KAN.EPE.) and
European Standards (Eurocodes). The capacity of the existing
concrete structure that makes up the two central buildings in the
complex (buildings II and IV) has been evaluated both in its present
form and after including several proposed architectural interventions.
The structural system consists of spatial frames of columns and
beams that have been simulated using beam elements. Some RC
elements of the buildings have been strengthened in the past by
means of concrete jacketing and have had cracks sealed with epoxy
injections. Static-nonlinear analysis (Pushover) has been used to
assess the seismic performance of the two structures with regard to
performance level B1 from KAN.EPE. Retrofitting scenarios are
proposed for the two buildings, including type Λ steel bracings and
placement of concrete shear walls in the transverse direction in order
to achieve the design-specification deformation in each applicable
situation, improve the seismic performance, and reduce the number
of interventions required.