Seismic retrofit design method using friction damping systems for old low- and mid-rise regular reinforced concrete buildings

In seismically active regions, many old low- to mid-rise reinforced concrete (RC) buildings are in use that have poor reinforcement details and suffer from material deterioration. Because these buildings are vulnerable to earthquakes, they represent a threat to human lives and economy. To impart such a building with satisfactory seismic performance, a friction damping system can be used, which consists of dampers and a braced frame. In this study, a method for the design of friction damping systems is proposed for the seismic retrofit of old low- to mid-rise regular reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The proposed method is verified using a six-story RC building designed considering only gravity loads.