ReCast Floors-Seismic Assessment and Retrofit Development of Precast Floors

Abstract

Precast floors are the dominant flooring system in New Zealand’s multi storey buildings stock, where hollow core floors are the most ubiquitous flooring system Following the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, significant damage was observed in multiple buildings that incorporated hollow core floors Hollow core flooring systems vulnerability in regions of high seismicity was reinforced, and concerns regarding the performance of these floors in future seismic events were confirmed As a response to those concerns the ReCast Floors’ research group was formed with the objectives of improving the current understanding of the seismic performance of precast floors and develop suitable, tested retrofit techniques Results of the experimental investigations undertaken by the ReCast Floors’ project so far are presented herein