Overview

This project involved the structural retrofitting of two existing three-storey school buildings in Larissa, Greece, each functioning as a high school. The 20-year-old buildings sustained structural damage after two earthquakes, measuring 6.1 and 6.2 on the Richter scale.
Flexural strengthening of the columns was achieved using circular carbon rods provided by Sika. For shear strengthening, additional stirrups were installed in the columns, complemented by Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) wrapping. FRP was also applied to the beams to enhance their shear resistance. To further improve the shear capacity of the beam–column joints, steel plates were anchored with screws.
A nonlinear analysis was performed in accordance with the Greek Code of Structural Interventions for the retrofitting of buildings, with the primary objective of restoring and upgrading the flexural and shear capacity of the damaged structural elements, particularly beams and columns. Structural analysis and design were conducted in compliance with Eurocodes 1, 2, and 8-3.
The analysis was carried out using FESPA software, while the FRP systems were designed and detailed with the assistance of Sika’s specialized software.