Japanese seismic rehabilitation of concrete buildings after the Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake

After the Great Hansin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster caused by the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake (Kobe Earthquake), new approaches to utilize seismic isolation, supplemental damping and continuous fiber wrapping have been applied for seismic rehabilitation of reinforced concrete buildings as well as conventional strengthening techniques to infill, to brace and to jacket existing framing members. An overview of the state-of-the-art in techniques for seismic rehabilitation of existing reinforced concrete buildings is presented in this paper with emphasis on research and practice. Response to the lessons from the Great Hansin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster is summarized, firstly. The rehabilitation strategy and techniques, improved behavior of rehabilitated structures and components with various techniques, examples of both post-earthquake and pre-earthquake rehabilitation of existing buildings are introduced. Since application of the continuous fiber wrapping has been increased drastically after the Kobe Earthquake, the characteristics and detail of this technique are described. Finally, subjects to be considered in the future are summarized. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.