IMPROVEMENT OF SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN JAPAN -PART2 SYSTEMATIC PROJECT FOR RETROFIT AND QUICK RESPONSE AGAINST FUTURE EARTHQUAKES

SUMMARY This paper is to describe the measures of the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Architectural Institute of Japan on the improvement of existing reinforced concrete school buildings. Based on the survey and analysis of the damaged buildings during 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake, the Ministry of Education, Japanese Government, requested to the AIJ to develop the design manuals for retrofitting school buildings. The Task Committee of AIJ recommended the promotion of the seismic capacity evaluation to find out vulnerable school buildings and drafted the manuals for retrofitting existing school buildings, which are outlined in this paper. The Ministry of Education accepted the recommendations of the Task Committee and has been taking various measures to retrofit existing school buildings including financial support to local school districts. Statistical data on past retrofit design of school buildings were evaluated in technical and economical viewpoints. A new committee in AIJ follows the activities with special emphasis on quick recovery of school buildings after a major earthquake. A sophisticated and quick procedure including damage evaluation, temporary recovery and strengthening in consideration of permanent retrofit, and permission on use, is being developed and described as a guidelines for administrators and engineers.