Introduction - Assessment and Refurbishment of Steel Structures - page 3

Structural failure A change in a structure compared with its original condition that
impairs its reliability
Structural flaw A deficiency in the structure caused by errors in design, construction or
use
Original design documentation Documentation providing a background for the
construction and erection of a structure
Documentation of actual construction The design, and other documentation in which all
changes made during completion of the structure are stated
Adjusted documentation Documentation of actual completion of the structure including
all changes
Loading capacity The ability of the structure to carry the required loading from the point
of view of the ultimate and serviceability-limiting conditions on the operation of the
static and dynamic loading system
Opinion on loading capability of an existing structure A judgement on an existing load-
bearing structure with respect to its ultimate and serviceability limiting conditions,
perhaps with respect to its lifetime
Reconstruction (refurbishment) of a steel structure A set of various proposals by which
the layout, static system and loading capacity of elements and parts of an existing
structure may be modified with the intention of meeting changed requirements for the
usage and operation of the structure.
Refurbishment of steel structures can be divided into:
• Reinforcement
• Renovation
• Extension
• Replacement
• Relocation
• Special arrangements.
Reinforcement of the structure An adaptation intended to recover operational features of a
structure or to increase the increasing loading capacity, reliability and serviceability of
the structure
Direct reinforcement The reinforced and reinforcing parts that constitute one load-
bearing element
Indirect reinforcement An arrangement in which the reinforced and reinforcing parts of
the structure are constituted by separate load-bearing elements
Structure securing A temporary arrangement to secure the reliability of a structure
Renovation An arrangement of structural parts or the structure as a whole after
extraordinary events and accidents
Extension (of a superstructure and additional building) An extension of an existing
section of the structure
Replacement An arrangement that replaces the original structure or a section of it by a
new structure linked to an existing layout
Relocation A part of the original or the entire original structure are moved
Special arrangements include:
• Indirect reinforcing
• Changes to the static system