Location: Khoroq, Tajikistan

Start and Completion Date: 2016

Area: 8526 m² 

Building Types: 11 Educational Facilities

Clients: Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) – Aga Khan Educational Services (AKES)

Partners: PBK Architects (USA)

Project Description:

This project was developed upon a request to Protek Yapi for support in the execution of feasibility studies and seismic evaluation of the Aga Khan Lycee Building Khorog which consists of 11 blocks with approximately 8526 sqm. The objective of this project was to define vulnerabilities associated with structures and to develop solutions to mitigate the seismic risks associated with structures. The contract was awarded to Protek Yapi to undertake the project in three phases:

• Assessment of buildings

The assessment phase included a survey of the building’s structural system using available data, measurements, and destructive and non-destructive testing. Field assessment included collecting the existing data and acquiring the new data regarding Buildings, using visual site inspection, detailed condition assessment, review of existing reports/drawings, testing of mechanical properties of the materials, and surveying of all structural characteristics of the building, to determine the fundamental parameters for the mathematical models used in the analysis process and to reach a decision whether the building will remain safe during and after a seismic event.

• Preliminary design of retrofitting and rehabilitation of the structures assessed and found suitable for retrofitting

Performance-based engineering calculations have been provided. To overcome the vulnerabilities associated with structures, two different alternatives for the strengthening of each structure have been considered. Among the alternatives, the most cost-effective method has been selected and 3-D finite element analysis has been provided.

• Final design

The retrofitted building has been analyzed for defined earthquakes and evaluated for the target performance levels. The results reveal that the retrofitting operations are effective and adequate to improve the seismic performance and to upgrade the buildings to the target performance. No structural member is subjected to brittle failure. The torsional irregularity levels are acceptable and all the inter-story drifts are within the allowable limits.