RedR Talk: Seismic Retrofit of Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Tuesday, September 29 • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM GMT+1
Overview
Discussion of the seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete buildings, covering assessment, retrofit strategies and lessons from earthquake responses, including the March 2025 Mandalay earthquake.
Earthquakes can significantly compromise the safety and performance of reinforced concrete buildings, creating complex challenges for engineers tasked with restoring and improving structural resilience.
Retrofitting offers an opportunity to address vulnerabilities exposed by seismic events, improve performance and reduce future risk.
In this talk, Dr Umut Akguzel, MIStructE, Technical Associate at Ramboll, will introduce the key principles and philosophy underpinning the seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete buildings. Drawing on practical experience and lessons from earthquake responses, including the March 2025 Mandalay earthquake, the session will explore how engineers approach retrofit decision-making and select appropriate strengthening strategies.
Assessment and decision-making are covered as the basis for retrofit choices, before the session turns to strategies and techniques. This includes how existing buildings are judged against reduced targets rather than new-build criteria, and how the performance objective is agreed with the client.
Participants will gain an overview of common earthquake damage mechanisms and the deficiencies behind them. Through examples, the session will show how different strengthening techniques are matched to specific structural vulnerabilities and performance objectives, helping practitioners make more informed decisions when planning interventions.
Who should attend?
This webinar is aimed at structural and civil engineers, building professionals, humanitarian practitioners, and students with an interest in earthquake resilience and post-disaster recovery. It will be particularly valuable for those involved in the assessment, repair, strengthening, or management of reinforced concrete buildings in seismic regions, as well as anyone looking to better understand how retrofit strategies can improve the safety and performance of existing structures.
How to join
If you would like to attend, please register through Eventbrite. You will receive instructions on how to join after registration.
