SEISMIC STRENGTHENING OF HARBORVIEW MEDICAL CENTER USING FRP REINFORCEMENT

摘要

The Harborview Medical Center North Wing seismic upgrade will meet Immediate Occupancy performance standards for the DBE seismic event with the strategic application of FRP and structural steel reinforcements. A material testing program verified the contribution of FRP reinforcement toward improved inelastic behavior and provides reliable performance properties for the hybrid elements. An inelastic analysis of the structure before and after the application of the reinforcements demonstrates the potential instability of the existing structure versus the stability and reserve capacity of the reinforced structure. The proposed reinforcements satisfy the following stated goals: 1. Satisfy Immediate Occupancy performance for the DBE seismic event, demonstrated by inelastic analysis. 2. Maintain nearly full operations within the building during construction. FRP is applied mostly to the exterior of the building, which minimizes interruptions on the interior floors. 3. Minimize construction noise and activities that may be disruptive to patients and staff. Procedures have been tested and specified to minimize construction noise inside the building. 4. Provide a cost-effective design. The FRP reinforcement is substantially less expensive than the much more intrusive concept of adding new structural elements into the building to carry the seismic forces. The design of the seismic reinforcements for the North Wing, incorporating projectspecific material testing in concert with inelastic analysis of building performance, will result in a building that will meet the stated criteria in a reliable and predictable fashion.