I tried to reduce the risks of Earthquake actions and reaction because I think this project will help the stability, the costs of energy production for such huge projects is total higher than my expectations

Dear Dr. Amir Ali,

I do not think that any Code "specifies the maximum % of retrofitting cost in relation to the total cost of construction of a new brick masonry structure". There could be some examples but the variety of the retrofitting technologies and of new masonry structures is so large that, actually, it is impossible to specify the percent of retrofitting cost.

For example, I am doing retrofitting of existing buildings using invented by me seismic (base or roof) isolation technologies. As it is mentioned by scientists and engineers from different countries, I am the only expert in the world who is doing retrofitting without moving people out of the buildings (without interrupting the use of the buildings). In my case the retrofitting of existing buildings costs from 3 to 5 times less in comparison with conventional retrofitting.

Therefore, I would never recommend applying retrofitting by any of the old traditional methods as their cost (and time) for retrofitting will be much bigger (longer) than the cost and time for construction of new building.

Best regards,

Mikayel Melkumyan

Doctor of Sciences (Engineering), Professor

Academician of the Saint-Petersburg Arctic Academy of Sciences

Academician of the Athens Institute for Education and Research

President of the Armenian Association for Earthquake Engineering

Vice-President of the International Association of CIS Countries on Base Isolation

Member of the USA Association for Science and Technology

Foreign member of the Research Center of Seismic Resistant Structures of the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo

Eminent Expert of the Committee of Eminent Experts in International Research Base of Seismic Mitigation and Isolation of Gansu Province in China

Founder of the "Save the Yerevan Schools From Earthquakes" foundation

Director of the "Melkumyan Seismic Technologies" LLC

+374 (91) 94-54-02

[email protected]

Mikayel Grigor Melkumyan Alireza Pourteymouri

Thank you for your response. I was wondering and probably read somewhere that the maximum cost of retrofitting should not exceed 25% of the total cost of constructing a new building (Constructing the same building as new rather than retrofitting it). I was not sure whether any international building code specify any such things.

When we talk about the foundation, we look for normal material but if we use new version of concrete which combines with magnetic reinforce material we could reduce the costs

Maximums cost with normal materials in Iran will be approximately 258 billion Toman

With those materials will be a little bit expensive but more practical

I totally don't get your questions

Because the dams which was built in Iran for the construction parts was 265 billion Toman

But these materials spreslded concrete with the mixture of magnetic materials like, we will have best structure that could not easily be colaps

Even the foundation will be musch safer for earthquake attacks

Alireza Pourteymouri Mikayel Grigor Melkumyan Naveed Ahmad Mohammad Ashraf (Please provide you valuable feedback)

I am extending the explanation of the question.

If the construction cost of the new building is $100 and after a seismic event the building is damaged. No matter what retrofitting technique you use, the cost of retrofitting was calculated to be $70, which is 70 % of the cost of a new building. Would you still retrofit the building or will go for constructing a new one? So, the question is, Is there any cost wise limitation on the retrofitting compared to the cost of fabricating a new building (e-g. Retrofitting cost should not exceed 25% of the cost of constructing a new building from the scratch). I hope it is clear now.

Dear Dr. Amir Ali,

Your explanation again is not clear because you are not specifying to what extent the newly constructed building was damaged after the seismic event. In Armenian Code there are five categories of damages:

1. Light damage of non-bearing elements;

2. Moderate damage of structures;

3. Significant damage of structures;

4. Severe damage of structures;

5. Collapse

I have applied retrofitting of buildings using developed by me seismic isolation technologies for the mentioned 1, 2, and 3 categories. The results are as follows:

1. Retrofitting costs only 4% of the cost of newly constructed but then damaged building;

2. Retrofitting costs only 7% of the cost of newly constructed but then damaged building;

3. Retrofitting costs only 12% of the cost of newly constructed but then damaged building.

I must say that retrofitting cost includes not only installation of seismic isolation system but also the cost of the local strengthening of significantly damaged structures.

I am not dealing with other very expensive methods of retrofitting because I consider them as unacceptable. If I can retrofit the building with extremely lower cost and in very short period of time, then why should I use other conservative methods.

Best regards,

Mikayel Melkumyan

Doctor of Sciences (Engineering), Professor

Academician of the Saint-Petersburg Arctic Academy of Sciences

Academician of the Athens Institute for Education and Research

President of the Armenian Association for Earthquake Engineering

Vice-President of the International Association of CIS Countries on Base Isolation

Member of the USA Association for Science and Technology

Foreign member of the Research Center of Seismic Resistant Structures of the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo

Eminent Expert of the Committee of Eminent Experts in International Research Base of Seismic Mitigation and Isolation of Gansu Province in China

Founder of the "Save the Yerevan Schools From Earthquakes" foundation

Director of the "Melkumyan Seismic Technologies" LLC

+374 (91) 94-54-02

[email protected]

Dear Amir Ali

The main objective of retrofitting is to upgrade the seismic resistance of an existing deficient and damaged masonry building to provide better structural performance and capacity so that it becomes safe under the recurrence of likely future earthquakes. Retrofitting not only improves the overall structural integrity but also eliminates the demolition and debris disposal costs.

According to the kind of construction of the building and its state, retrofitting can save lives and reduce damages for a cost that can range from 10 to 30% of the price of a new building.

Reference:

Vashisht, R., Padalu, P.K.V.R., Surana, M. (2023). Seismic Retrofitting of Existing Stone Masonry Houses: An Overview. In: Shrikhande, M., Agarwal, P., Kumar, P.C.A. (eds) Proceedings of 17th Symposium on Earthquake Engineering (Vol. 2). SEE 2022. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 330. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1604-7_43

With regards,

Pravin