Development of Dissipation Panels for Seismic Retrofitting of Historic Buildings

In the reconstruction of Lisbon after the devastating earthquake of 1755, an innovative structural solution was implemented. The historic timber framed masonry walls represented then a structural key element regarding seismic action. As often as not the buildings that incorporated these seismic resistant walls require interventions in respect of their original structure, re-establishing or enhancing the seismic behaviour. Innovative Dissipation Panels for seismic retrofitting are under development. The design of the Dissipation Panels was based on the role of the historic timber framed masonry walls as well as on the incorporation of the quite recent seismic protection systems, which reduce damage and limit losses more effectively than the traditional approach. The new technology was designed to improve the energy dissipation capacity of the buildings associated with seismic actions whilst preserving and respecting their original structural concept and, therefore, their authenticity. Full scale prototypes of the developed Dissipation Panels were produced and tested in order to characterize its cyclic behaviour. Experimental characterization of the dynamic behaviour of the conceived prototypes show good energy dissipation capacity.