A procedure to evaluate numerically the strength and ductility reserves of different types of upgrading systems commonly used in the Central American countries for building structures under earthquake loading is presented. Based on the necessity to combine the aspects of economy and structural safety, Central American codes for seismic design, like most of the modem seismic design codes, allow for the dissipation of the large seismic energy input through inelastic deformations in critical regions. The result is that for severe earthquakes the structure's resistant elements are allowed to suffer some grade of "supposedly controlled" damage. To quantify the structural damage on structural elements, nonlinear analysis is required. However, because of a lack of simple inelastic dynamic procedures and the difficulties involved by the modeling of realistic material behavior and seismic loads, central American current seismic codes recommend the use of methods of analysis based on linear elastic material behavior.

Realistic estimation of force and deformation histories occurred during cyclic hazardous ground motions can only be done through: a) large dynamic table tests, b) on site measurements during real earthquakes or c) by dynamic analyses (numerical modeling procedures).

The present report focuses the numerical study of some typical strengthening solutions used in Central America in the last decades. Relevant information is obtained in order to select the optimal strengthening solutions for specific cases regarding directly the ductility reserves and the strength capacity of the systems.

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