Seismic rehabilitation of vertical systems in concrete buildings by steel wall systems

In order to prevent existing structures from damage due to earthquake loads, Steel Shear Walls (SSW) have proved to be effective retrofitting solutions. They can be integrated in existing reinforced concrete (r.c.) frames, as shown in Figure 3. The SSW are able to convert horizontal dynamic loads into deformation energy (energy dissipation). Shear walls are effective elements for increasing strength, but they may be significantly stiffer than the existing structure, especially a moment resting frame structure. Therefore, they “attract” the lateral loads and represent almost all of the retrofitted structure’s lateral resistance.