Upgrading of a 70 year old Grandstand

The Kerepesi Ügető (racecourse) in Budapest included several reinforced concrete grandstands of different classes for use by the audience. The racecourse was closed in year 2000 and most of ist buildings were demolished except the Class II. Grandstand which was declared as a national monument. Our task was on one hand to perform a complete statical investigation for this Grandstand, on the other hand the methodology of the strengthening and renovation had to be developed. Statical investigations of the Grandstand included in-situ measurements, material tests in the laboratory and finite element analysis of the structure. Results of statical investigation showed that the requirements of the European Standard (EC) are satisfied for most of the controlled cross-sections and structural members, however the load carrying capacity was insufficient in some places therefore strengthening was necessary. Strengthening methods included injection of cracks, integration of new structural elements (anchoring beam, suspending column), application of new concrete shell on some of the columns and application of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) sheets on roof beams. The strengthening extended the life-span of this Grandstand by 50 years.