Integrated Cost-Analysis Approach for Seismic and Thermal Improvement of Masonry Building Façades

Abstract

The combination of structural and thermal efficiency is a new frontier in civil engineering. Indeed, the retrofitting strategies should optimize costs and technical solutions from these two points of view. If a technical solution is able to provide an improvement of both structural and energetic behavior, then the utility of the intervention can better justify the economic investment. In this paper, a meso-scale approach (i.e., façade-scale) for integrated interventions applied on masonry façades is proposed. The structural performance of the façade is evaluated by considering base shear and ductility of the structural element through non-linear static analyses. Moreover, the thermal indicator, that is the thermal transmittance, is computed with a simplified approach in terms of an equivalent wall, taking into account the role of the windows and doors of the façade. As proof of concept, the procedure is applied to a façade of an existing masonry building. Economic and environmental iso-cost curves are obtained to tune the interventions conceived for a real case study, analyzing the benefit offered by different retrofitting solutions.

Keywords

• environmental cost
• economic cost
• integrated approach
• integrated interventions
• sustainable buildings
• mesoscale