Seismic Retrofitting of an Existing Masonry School Building: A Case Study in Algarve

One of the goals of the PERSISTAH project is the seismic assessment of primary school buildings existing in Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain) regions, and to propose retrofitting solutions for the buildings that present a high seismic risk level. These solutions are to be implemented in two pilot school buildings, one in the Algarve and the other in Huelva. The most vulnerable school buildings that were identified in Algarve were the masonry buildings, which were built before the existence of modern seismic codes. The primary school selected for retrofitting is located at Bracanes (Olhão). At first, a nonlinear seismic static analysis was carried out using the N2 method, trying to apply advanced seismic analysis methods to practical problems. This led to the conclusion that the existing building does not comply with the seismic level established in the NP EN1998-3:2017 code (EC8-3). Because there is already a rigid roof system, the selected retrofitting strategy is the consolidation of the vertical structure, namely applying one solution presented in the EC8-3. This case study has shown the difficulties of applying the EC8-3 to the Algarve region, and what it is possible to do to overcome those problems.