Seismic Vulnerability Assessment & Retrofit of Tkibuli School (Georgia)

Preliminary engineering assessment

The main objective of this project is to conduct the preliminary engineering assessment (PEA) of Tkibuli School, by which the deficiencies and vulnerabilities associated with this structure are identified and a possible retrofitting or re-construction decision is addressed. Since only the main building was identified as deficient within the Tkibuli School complex, this report focuses on the main building only.

To overcome the vulnerabilities of the structure, different retrofitting solutions were qualitatively assessed and, among the alternatives, the most cost-effective method was selected, and a 3-D finite element analysis was provided.

Considering the significant number of vulnerable masonry walls and large openings in the exterior walls, applying a concrete overlay to the masonry walls was selected as the final retrofitting solution. In this regard, using shotcrete is proposed on the masonry walls in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

The results of the retrofitted structure analysis reveal that the retrofitting operation is effective and adequate to improve the seismic performance and to upgrade the building to the target performance level. Besides retrofitting the existing masonry walls, rehabilitation of the existing roofs is proposed to increase the integrity of the lateral load-resisting system.

Retrofitting solution: adding a concrete overlay to the existing masonry walls

In Tkibuli School, it was decided to coat the vulnerable masonry walls with a reinforced concrete layer to retrofit the building. However, prior to any retrofitting action on the existing walls, a new load-bearing masonry wall needs to be constructed at the basement level to create a continuous load path in the transverse direction of the building.

Modeling

ETABS 19.0.0 was employed to model the structure. In the following figures, the 3-D model of the retrofitted structure is depicted per block.