H-PLANET – Post-earthquake repair and anti-overturning reinforcement for a condominium – Folignano (AP)

Predominantly used as residential housing, the building located in a neighboring municipality of Ascoli Piceno, and therefore adjacent to the areas where the earthquake struck with particular intensity, is isolated and consists of four real estate units. It is composed of four levels – basement, ground floor, first floor, and attic – with an average floor area of approximately 98.00 sqm. The construction, dating back to 1977, has an irregular shape and is made of a reinforced concrete framed structure, with rigid floor and roof slabs in reinforced concrete on the floor. There are some damaged cantilever elements due to seismic action at the interfaces between the structure and the external infill walls, indicating a marked vulnerability due to excessive deformability.

ISSUES AND DAMAGE

The inspection carried out in March 2017 did not reveal any damage to the load-bearing structures of the building, but mainly detachment lesions between the load-bearing structure and the vertical infill walls (internal and external), particularly regarding the external wall on the southeast side of the building. Furthermore, a vertical lesion with partial overturning was detected on the in-situ cast reinforced concrete retaining wall that delimits the paved courtyard access to the dwelling from the garden above.

INTERVENTION

The implemented intervention repaired and strengthened the damaged masonry using the thin reinforced plaster technique – H-PLANET SYSTEM – to restore the habitability of the building through a stitching operation of the lesions (vertical and/or horizontal) and with anti-overturning objectives. The reinforcement of the masonry was carried out by installing a mesh made of preformed, low-thickness, and improved adhesion Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composite material, consisting of carbon fiber and thermosetting resin, with a monolithic square mesh. The mesh, installed on both faces of the masonry walls, was connected between the two sides of the masonry wall and the load-bearing structures using high-tensile carbon fiber staples positioned at regular intervals with a distance not exceeding 500 mm in both horizontal and vertical directions. The application was completed with high-adhesion cement-based mortar and connections with helical bars and carbon fiber staples, using the Composite Reinforced Mortar (CRM) technique.

CONSTRUCTION SITE DATA PROJECT_Safety and anti-overturning intervention on the connections between infill walls and reinforced concrete structure of a condominium

LOCATION_Municipality of Folignano, Ascoli Piceno

DESIGN_Engineer Alberto MARI CONTRACTOR_MTM COSTRUZIONI SrL, Ascoli Piceno

COMPLETION_2017