IJEUUHAM
Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)
Earthquake Damaged Reinforced Concrete
Structures - Rehabilitation and Strengthening
S.Saileysh Sivaraja*, S. Moses Aranganathan* and T.S. Thandavamoorthy**
*Professor of Civil Engineering, Dr.M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University,
Chennai, India,
**Professor of Civil Engineering, Adhiparasakthi Engineering College, Tamil Nadu, India,
Email: ermoses1954@yahoo.co.in, tan_44@yahoo.com
Abstract:-Distress in RCC buildings are common
occurrences. Stress in a building component can
be caused by external forces such as dead, live,
wind and seismic loads or foundation settlement
or can be induced internally due to thermal
movement, moisture changes, chemical action,
etc. Whenever there are damages in an existing
structure due to any reason it is necessary to
identify the same correctly in location, and
ascertain the cause of damage and strengthening
/ rehabilitation concrete structures has to be
carried out. In a comprehensive approach, one
has to look at the potential of “preservation” and
“rehabilitation”. Rehabilitation involves making
possible a continuing or compatible
contemporary use of concrete structure through
repair, alteration and additions. This paper
presents a review of the development of a general
technique to strengthen / rehabilitation of the
damaged concrete structures due to various
causes, the broad classification such as minor
repair, medium repair and major repair, and
different repairing / rehabilitation techniques
including sealing with epoxies, stitching,
blanketing, grouting, jacketing and fiber
reinforced polymer ( FRP) sheet wrapping.
INTRODUCTION
Concrete construction is generally
expected to give trouble free service
throughout its intended design life. However,
these expectations are not realized in many
constructions because of structural deficiency,
material deterioration, unanticipated over
loadings or physical damage. Premature
material deterioration can arise from a number
of causes, the most common being when the
construction specification are violated or when
the facility is exposed to harsher service
environment than those expected during the
planning and design stages. Physical damage
can also arise from fiber, explosion as well as
from restraints, both internal and external,
against structural movement. Except in
extreme cases, most structures require
restoration to meet its functional requirements
by appropriate repair techniques. Distresses in
buildings are of common occurrences. A
building component develops cracks whenever
the resultant stress exceeds its strength.
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Stresses in a building component can be
caused by externally applied forces, such as
dead, live wind or seismic loads or by the
deformations induced by the foundation
settlement. Sometimes, due to thermal
movements, moisture changes and chemical
action, etc., deformations can be caused
internally. Distress can be broadly classified as
either structural or non-structural. Structural
distresses are generally caused by incorrect
design, faulty construction or overloading.
These may endanger the safety of a building.
Extensive cracking of reinforced concrete
beam due to overloading is one example of
structural distress. Once cracked structure has
been evaluated and the causes of a suitable
repair procedure can be selected which take
these causes into account. The methods of
crack repair including the characteristics of
cracks that may be repaired with each
procedure and the types of structure that have
been repaired are provided in the following
sections.
A. TECHNIQUES FOR MINOR REPAIR
Sealing With Epoxies
Cracks in concrete may be sealed by
the injection of epoxy bonding compounds
under pressure. Usual practice is to drill into
cracks from the face of concrete at several
locations. Water or a solvent is injected to
flush out the dirt. The surface is then allowed
to dry. The epoxy is injected into the drilled
holes until it flows out through the other holes.
The work should proceed from bottom to top.
Routing and Sealing: This method involves
enlarging the cracks along its exposed surface,
filling and finally sealing it with a suitable
material. This is the simplest and most
common technique for sealing cracks and is
applicable for sealing both fine pattern cracks
and larger isolated defects. The cracks should
be dormant unless they are adequately opened
up to put in a substantial patch in which case
the repair may be more properly termed
blanketing. On road pavements it is common
to see cracks which have been sealed by
IJEUUHAM
Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)
pouring hot tar over them This is a simple and
inexpensive expedient technique where
through water tightness of the joint is not
required and where appearance is not
important. Routing and sealing of leaking
cracks should be done on the pressure face so
that the water aggressive agents cannot
penetrate the interior of the concrete and cause
side effects such as swelling, chemical attack
or corrosion of the rebars.
Fig. 1 Routing and sealing
Stitching
The tensile strength of a cracked
concrete section can be restored by stitching in
a manner similar to sewing cloth (Fig. 2).
i) Any degree of strengthening can be
accomplished but it must be noted that
strengthening also tends to stiffen the
structure locally.
ii) Stitching the crack will tend to cause its
migration elsewhere in the structure. For
this reason, strengthening of the adjacent
areas of cracks has to be made to take
care of additional stresses. Moreover, the
stitching dogs should be of variable
length, orientation and so located that the
tension transmitted across the crack does
not devolve on a single plane of the
section but is spread out well over an
area. Strengthening of the adjacent
sections of concrete may consist of
external reinforcement embedded in a
suitable overlay material.
iii) Where there is water ingress problem,
the crack should be sealed as well as
stitched so that the stitches are not
corroded. For this suitable overlay can
be applied.
iv) Stress concentrations occurs at the ends
of cracks, hence the spacing of the
stitching dogs should be reduced at such
locations. The stress concentrations at
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each end of the crack can be relieved by
drilling suitable holes or making the end
rounded.
v) Wherever possible both the sides of the
cracks have to be stitched to prevent
bending action on the dogs due to
movements of the structure. In bending
members it is possible to stitch one side
of the crack only but this should be the
tension side of the section where
movement is originating, If the member
is in a state of axial tension, then a
symmetrical placement of the dogs is
necessary.
vi) If the stitching is to supplement the
strength of the existing section, the
deformation should be compatible. The
dogs must be grouted with a non-shrink
or expandable mortar so that they have a
tight fit. Thus, the movement of the
crack will cause the simultaneous
stressing of both old ane new concrete.
The holes drilled for accommodating the
legs of the dogs should be filled with
grout.
vii) The dogs are thin and long and so cannot
take much of compressive force. The
dogs must be stiffened and strengthened
by encasing it in an overlay.
Fig, 2 Stitching
Blanketing
This is similar to routing and sealing
but used on a large scale and applicable for
sealing both active and dormant cracks and
joints. Types of Blanket joints are:
Type I Where an elastic sealant is used the
sealant material is one which returns to its
original shape when the externally induced
stress is removed.
Type Il A Mastic-filled joint that is similar to
the sealant application of an elastic sealant
IJEUUHAM
Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)
except that the bond breaker is omitted and the
sealant is boned to the bottom as well as to the
sides of the chased dispersion. The sealant is
mastic rather than a compound with elastic
properties. They are used when the anticipated
movements are small.
Type Ill - A mortar-plugged joint ,
Type IV - A crimped water bar overlays
Fig. 4 Types of Blanketing
These are used to seal cracks. They are useful
and desirable where there are large numbers of
cracks and treatment of each individual crack
would be too expensive and laborious.
Grouting: It can be performed in a similar
manner as the injection of on epoxy. However,
the use of epoxy is a better solution except
where considerations of fire resistance or cold
weather prevent such use. In these cases,
grouting is an effective alternative. An
alternative and better method is to drill down
the length of the crack and grout it so as to
form a key. This is applicable only when the
crack runs approximately in a straight line and
is accessible one from end. The grout
key prevents relative transverse movement of
the sections of concrete adjacent to the crack.
It also prevents leakage through the crack.
Fig. 5 Grouting technique
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B. TECHNIQUES FOR MEDIUM REPAIR
Jacketing
This is applicable to deteriorated
columns, piers and piles. This method is useful
where entire or a portion of the section to be
repaired.
Fig. 6 Jacketing repair
Jacketing consists of restoring or
increasing the section of an existing member
by encasing it in new concrete. The original
member need not be concrete. This method is
useful for protection of a section against
further deterioration by providing additional
strength to the member.
Types
Timber forms
For marine environments or where it
is desired to protect concrete from chemical
reactions from environment, the use of
permanent timber forms is recommended (Fig.
7), provided they are resistant to fire and their
appearance is good.
Fig. 7 Timber form
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Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)

Pneumatically Applied Mortar necessary. Timber elements could be

Pneumatically applied mortar is used
for the restoration of concrete surfaces where
the location of deterioration is relatively at
shallow depths. It can be used on vertical as
well as on horizontal surfaces and is
particularly useful for restoring surfaces
spoiled due to corrosion of reinforcement.
Replacement Of Concrete
It consists of replacing the defective
concrete with new concrete of conventional
proportions placed in a conventional manner.
This is useful when the volume of material to
be replaced is large and where repair occurs at
large depths. Pier walls, hydraulic structures,
and similar heavy structures above sub grade
and water level are the usual areas of
application of this technique.
Overlays
Overlays may also be used to restore
a spalled or disintegrated surface or to protect
the existing concrete from the attack of
aggressive agents. Overlays used for this
purpose include concrete mortar, bituminous
compounds, etc. Epoxies should be used to
bond the overlays to the existing concrete
surface in order to have monolithic action of
the overlay with the old concrete. The material
used is Pneumatically applied mortar, sand-
cement slurry, sand-cement plaster, Epoxy
resins, and Bituminous coating.
connected to diagonal planks nailed to them
and spiked to an all round wooden frame at the
ends. Reinforced concrete elements may either
have 40 mm cast-in-situ-concrete topping with
6 mm dia bars 150 mm c/c both ways or
bounded by a horizontal cast-in-situ-reinforced
concrete ring beam all round into which the
ends of reinforced concrete elements are
embedded. Roofs or floors consisting of steel
joists flat or segmental arches must have
horizontal ties holding the joists horizontally in
each arch span so as to prevent the spreading
of joists. If such ties do not exist, these should
be installed by welding or clamping.
Strengthening of Column
Reinforced concrete columns can best
be strengthened by casing, that is, by providing
additional cage of longitudinal and lateral tie
reinforcements around the columns and casting
a concrete ring. The desired strength and
ductility can thus be built-up. Figures 8-18
show the strengthening of RCC columns.

Epoxy Resins Fig. 8 Removal of spalled concrete

These are organic compounds which
when activated with suitable hardening agents
form strong chemically resistant layer having
excellent adhesive properties. They are used as
binders or adhesives to bond new concrete
racked portions. Once hardened this compound
will not melt, flow or bleed.

C. TECHNIQUES FOR MAJOR REPAIR

Strengthening of Roofs and Slabs:
False ceiling of brittle material is dangerous.
Non- brittle material, like hessian cloth, Fig. 9 Replacing steel bar by welding
bamboo matting or light ones of foam
substances, may be substituted. Welding or
clamping suitable diagonal bracing members
in the vertical as well as horizontal planes
should brace roof truss frames. Anchors of
roof trusses to supporting walls should be
improved and the roof thrust on walls should
be eliminated.
Where the roof or floor consists of
prefabricated units like RC rectangular T or
channel units or wooden poles and joists
carrying brick tiles, integration of such units is Fig. 10 Fixing of lateral ties

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IJEUUHAM
Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)

Fig. 11 Column ready for micro concreting (a) Dust free aggregate (b) Aggregate
mixing
Fig. 15 Aggregates

Fig. 12 Removal of dust by blowers

Fig.16 De-shattering of column

(a) Epoxy coating (b) Epoxy bonding

Fig. 17 Pouring of micro concrete
for steel bar agent coating for
concrete surface
Fig. 14 Use of epoxy

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IJEUUHAM
Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)
Fig. 18 Application of curing agent
Fig. 19 Column strengthening with jacket
This can be done in many ways, (i)
Concrete Jacketing, (ii) Steel Jacketing, (iii)
Fibre Reinforced Polymer Sheet Wrapping and
(iv) Prestressed Wire Wrapping.
Concrete Jacketing
Concrete Jacketing is a popular
method of column retrofitting. This involves
addition of a thick layer of RC in the form of a
jacket, using longitudinal reinforcement and
closely spaced ties with detailing (Fig. 19).
The method is comparatively straightforward
and increases both strength and ductility. But,
the composite deformation of the existing and
the new concrete requires adequate dowelling
to the existing column. Also, the additional
longitudinal bars need to be anchored to the
foundation and should be continuous through
the slab.
Steel Jacketing
Steel jacketing refers to encasing the
column with steel plates and filling the gap
with non-shrink grout. The jacket is effective
in passive confinement. The lateral confining
stress is induced in the concrete as it expands
laterally. Thus, the jacket can be considered
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equivalent to continuous hoop reinforcement.
Steel jacketing is very effective method to
remedy deficiencies such as inadequate shear
strength and inadequate splices of longitudinal
bars at critical locations (Goel, 1995;
Aboutaha et.al., 1999). The steel jacketing can
be done in different ways such as (i) Steel
Strip Jacketing (ii) Steel Sheet Jacketing and
(iii) Corrugated Steel Jacketing.
Fibre Reinforced Polymer Sheet Wrapping
Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is a
composite material consisting of matrix of
polymeric material reinforced with uni-
directional or multi directional fibres. They
can be classified based on the material of the
fibre, which can be glass, carbon or aramid
(Mukherjee and Joshi, 2002). Glass has been
the predominant fibre for many civil
engineering applications, because of the
economical balance of cost and strength
properties.
Pre Stressed Wire Wrapping
An enhanced form of confinement
may be achieved by wrapping pre-stressing
wire under tension onto a column. This
technique is not suitable for columns of small
diameter.
Beam Strengthening
Beam elements can be strengthened
by addition of concrete, Steel Plating, FRP
Wrapping, U FRP bars and External
prestressing.
Addition Of Concrete
A reinforced concrete beam can be
encased as shown in Fig.10 (A). For holding
the stirrup in this case, a hole will have to be
drilled through the slab. Alternative can be
jacketed as shown in Fig.10 (B), and Fig.10(C)
wherein holes will need to drill through web of
existing beam for the new stirrups. Desired
quantity of longitudinal and transverse steel
may be added in each case. (Insert figures????)
Steel Plating
The technique of gluing mild steel
plates to beam is often used to improve their
flexural and shear performances. It increases
the strength and stiffness of the beams and
subsequently reduces the crack width. The
addition of steel plate is simple and rapid to
apply and it does not reduce the storey clear
height and can be applied while the structure is
in use.
IJEUUHAM
Volume 4, Number 2, July- December 2012, pp.60-66
@Serials Publications, (India)

Frp Wrapping at least maintaining the resistance of the

FRP laminates are attached to beams structure against failure. Also by resorting to
to increase their flexural and shear capacities. good design and construction practices one can
An analytical model to predict the behaviour reduce the cost of maintenance and repair.
of beams retrofitted with FRP laminates was
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rehabilitated by jacketing, pneumatically
applied mortar. Major repairs are rehabilitated
by Concrete jacketing, Fibre Reinforced
Polymer, Sheet wrapping, Beam strengthening,
etc. The useful life of a structure can be
increased by resorting to proper repair and
rehabilitation techniques. Regular maintenance
of the structures will also help in increasing or

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