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Seismic and Energy Retrofit of Apartment Buildings through Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks Infill Walls

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Artino

    (Architectural Engineer, via Nino Papaldo 11, 95030 Pedara, Italy)

  • Gianpiero Evola

    (Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Engineering (DIEEI), University of Catania, viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Margani

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAr), University of Catania, via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Edoardo Michele Marino

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAr), University of Catania, via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

All around the world, a huge amount of buildings have been built before the enforcement of specific codes for seismic resistance and energy efficiency. Particularly in Italy, over 74% of residential buildings were constructed before 1980, when only 25% of the territory was classified as seismic, and nearly 86% were built before 1991, when the first restrictive regulation on energy efficiency was issued. This means that most buildings need both seismic and energy renovation actions to improve their sustainability level. The proposed combined retrofit strategy for reinforced concrete framed buildings is based on the replacement of the external layer of double-leaf infill walls, made of hollow bricks, with high-performing AAC blocks: this solution can be implemented by operating mainly from the outside of the building, thus reducing occupants’ disruption during retrofitting. The generally neglected structural contribution of masonry infill panels is here considered using a recently developed macro-element modeling approach. The results suggest that, from a structural viewpoint, the proposed intervention involves the highest improvement at the damage limitation limit state, while lower upgrades are recorded at life safety limit state and near-collapse limit state. In regards to the energy issues, the energy demand can be reduced by 10% and 4% for heating and cooling, respectively, just by replacing the outer layer of blocks; further savings can be achieved through the application of a supplementary insulation layer.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Artino & Gianpiero Evola & Giuseppe Margani & Edoardo Michele Marino, 2019. "Seismic and Energy Retrofit of Apartment Buildings through Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks Infill Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-21, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3939-:d:249891
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sebastiano D’Urso & Bruno Cicero, 2019. "From the Efficiency of Nature to Parametric Design. A Holistic Approach for Sustainable Building Renovation in Seismic Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Annarita Ferrante & Giovanni Mochi & Giorgia Predari & Lorenzo Badini & Anastasia Fotopoulou & Riccardo Gulli & Giovanni Semprini, 2018. "A European Project for Safer and Energy Efficient Buildings: Pro-GET-onE (Proactive Synergy of inteGrated Efficient Technologies on Buildings’ Envelopes)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-26, March.
    3. Emil-Sever Georgescu & Mihaela Stela Georgescu & Zina Macri & Edoardo Michele Marino & Giuseppe Margani & Vasile Meita & Radu Pana & Santi Maria Cascone & Horia Petran & Pier Paolo Rossi & Vincenzo Sa, 2018. "Seismic and Energy Renovation: A Review of the Code Requirements and Solutions in Italy and Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-36, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. André Furtado & Hugo Rodrigues & António Arêde & Fernanda Rodrigues & Humberto Varum, 2022. "Interactions between Seismic Safety and Energy Efficiency for Masonry Infill Walls: A Shift of the Paradigm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-29, April.
    2. Francesco Smiroldo & Isabella Paviani & Ivan Giongo & Stefano Zanon & Rossano Albatici & Maurizio Piazza, 2021. "An Integrated Approach to Improve Seismic and Energetic Behaviour of RC Framed Buildings Using Timber Panels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-27, October.
    3. Alessandra De Angelis & Francesco Tariello & Rosa Francesca De Masi & Maria Rosaria Pecce, 2021. "Comparison of Different Solutions for a Seismic and Energy Retrofit of an Auditorium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Luca Pozza & Anna Degli Esposti & Alessandra Bonoli & Diego Talledo & Luca Barbaresi & Giovanni Semprini & Marco Savoia, 2021. "Multidisciplinary Performance Assessment of an Eco-Sustainable RC-Framed Skin for the Integrated Upgrading of Existing Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Giuseppe Margani & Gianpiero Evola & Carola Tardo & Edoardo Michele Marino, 2020. "Energy, Seismic, and Architectural Renovation of RC Framed Buildings with Prefabricated Timber Panels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    6. Antonio Artino & Riccardo Caponetto & Gianpiero Evola & Giuseppe Margani & Edoardo Michele Marino & Emanuele Murgano, 2020. "Decision Support System for the Sustainable Seismic and Energy Renovation of Buildings: Methodological Layout," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.

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