Advanced Materials and Innovative Solutions for Seismic Retrofit of Structures and Loss Reduction

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reducing the seismic vulnerability of existing constructions and unsustainable future economic losses is a crucial challenge for designers. Innovative techniques and advanced materials for retrofitting existing structures are capturing increased attention from the scientific community, especially in the field of applications aimed at reducing the level of disruption to users. The purpose of this Topic is to promote and disseminate theoretical and experimental research to evaluate the effectiveness of innovative materials for the mitigation of seismic risk. Particularly welcome are experimental works illustrating the application fields of innovative techniques and advanced materials for the repair and strengthening of existing reinforced concrete and masonry structures. Research studies focusing on how such innovative materials and techniques can significantly impact the potential reduction of economic losses induced by seismic actions are also fundamental. Indeed, recent seismic events worldwide have clearly demonstrated that the losses associated with these events are often so significant that they lead to demolition and reconstruction interventions as the unique, convenient solution. Studies dealing with innovative solutions to reduce damage to structural and non-structural elements responsible for significant economic losses are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Marco Di Ludovico
Dr. Ciro Del Vecchio
Topic Editors

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Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.5	2011	19.8 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.1	4.4	2011	14.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Construction Materials constrmater	-	3.1	2021	18.6 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Heritage heritage	1.9	3.7	2018	18.6 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Experimental Study on Seismic Retrofitting Techniques for RC Frames: RC Jacketing, Steel Jacketing, and Base Isolation

by Weilun Wang, Mingyuan Xie, Zhiwen Xu, Jiaqi Liao, Muhammad Abdullah and Mingyang Zhang

Buildings 2025, 15(19), 3539; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15193539 - 1 Oct 2025

Viewed by 328

Abstract

Earthquakes can cause significant damage to structures, resulting in considerable financial and social losses. Enhancing the seismic capacity of existing structures through retrofitting is essential. Traditional seismic retrofitting techniques, such as reinforced concrete (RC) jacketing and steel jacketing, primarily aim to increase structural [...] Read more.

Earthquakes can cause significant damage to structures, resulting in considerable financial and social losses. Enhancing the seismic capacity of existing structures through retrofitting is essential. Traditional seismic retrofitting techniques, such as reinforced concrete (RC) jacketing and steel jacketing, primarily aim to increase structural resistance. But RC jacketing is intrusive and increases mass and stiffness, steel jacketing increases cost and demands careful detailing and both approaches are often inadequate for addressing the dynamic complexities of seismic loading. As an alternative, base isolation systems provide a promising solution by concentrating deformation and energy dissipation within isolation bearings, thereby protecting the superstructure from seismic forces. This study evaluates the effectiveness of base isolation compared with conventional retrofitting methods in enhancing the seismic performance of existing structures. The experimental program included cyclic testing of four RC frame structures: one control specimen and three others retrofitted with RC jacketing, steel jacketing, and lead rubber bearings (LRB). The results indicate that the base-isolated specimen demonstrates superior energy dissipation capacity due to the favorable deformation characteristics of the LRB. Moreover, structural damage is redirected from the original columns to the newly installed transition beams, effectively preserving the integrity of the primary structure. These findings highlight the advantages of base isolation in improving seismic performance and provide valuable experimental evidence supporting its application in the retrofitting of existing structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Materials and Innovative Solutions for Seismic Retrofit of Structures and Loss Reduction)

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