Schools, seismicity, and retrofitting

This book presents the work carried out within the European research project PERSISTAH (Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SISmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva, in Portuguese), which has been developed jointly by the University of Seville (Spain) and the University of Algarve (Portugal). This research project focuses on the study and assessment of the seismic vulnerability of primary education buildings in the Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain) territories. The PERSISTAH project presents a series of essential aspects, which have supported its contribution in the formation of a more seismically resilient society. These aspects are: the singularities of the seismicity of this geographical area, the interest in the typology of school buildings and the analysis of their seismic vulnerability, the development of a seismic retrofitting methodology, which has been applied in two pilot schools of Huelva and the Algarve, the communication of seismic risk to the school community, and finally, the international cooperation for risk reduction. 

In the present book, the methodology and seismic regulations applied in the vulnerability analysis and subsequent retrofitting of school buildings is presented. Then, the seismic hazard of the Algarve and Huelva area is explained, as well as the seismic action used in each region for seismic analysis based on the different seismic regulations. Later, the characterization and typological classification of school buildings carried out for subsequent seismic analysis are shown. Finally, several seismic reinforcement techniques proposed by the different regulations are outlined, in greater depth in the case of the solutions studied in the project