EVALUATION AND RECONSTRUCTION WORKS ON EXISTING BUILDINGS

When in an existing building comes to change in its use or doubts exist in its safety often comes a question if the strengthening is worth wile or is it easier to completely demolish it and build a new one. In order to answer the question we need to evaluate its structural state in order to choose the oprimal strengthening technology and consequently evaluate the costs. The proposed methodology could be used for quick evaluation of the structural state, modeling of the true structural behavior, choice of optimal strengthening techology and for verification of the performed strenghtening works. It combines experimental data about building material, ground and structural behavior with analytical methods for estimation of the seismic vulnerability of masonry and reinforced concrete buildings. It roughly covers three vulnerability assessment levels required in the EC8: general stability, strength capacity and lateral displacement capacity. On the chosen building the method is outlined and effective strengthening costs are compared to the price of demolition and new construction.