Damage to engineered structures during the 12 January 2010, Haiti (Léogâne) earthquake

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 777-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Paultre ◽  
Éric Calais ◽  
Jean Proulx ◽  
Claude Prépetit ◽  
Steeve Ambroise
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Haiti Earthquake ◽  
Engineered Structures ◽  
Seismic Forces ◽  
Interim Measures ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Historic Seismicity ◽  
Construction Practice

The purpose of this paper is to first provide relevant information about the historic seismicity of the island of Haiti, the tectonic setting and the identification of the unmapped Léogâne fault which is now believed to have been the main cause of the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake. The paper then focuses on the state of construction in Haiti, with particular emphasis given to engineered buildings. The lack of a building code and standards for the design of structures, as well as the fact that seismic forces were not considered in the design of most buildings explains the failure of so many engineered structures. Several examples are given and arranged according to building function. Since the earthquake has occurred, interim measures have been implemented to control construction of new buildings. Some recommendations are given to improve construction practice in Haiti for the reconstruction.

Model Code Design Force Provisions for Elements of Structures and Nonstructural Components

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Drake ◽  
Leo J. Bragagnolo
Keyword(s):  
Building Code ◽  
Code Design ◽  
Structural System ◽  
Nonstructural Components ◽  
Model Code ◽  
Earthquake Design ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
New Buildings

With the publication of the 1997 Uniform Building Code ( UBC) and the 1997 NEHRP Recommended Provisions for the Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures, there has been a significant change in the earthquake design force provisions for buildings, structures, elements of structures and nonstructural components. Engineers and architects need to become informed regarding a variety of earthquake design force provisions, primarily those published in the UBC and those developed as part of the NEHRP Provisions. Both sources provide design force provisions for the building structural system and separate design force provisions for elements of structures and nonstructural components. This paper describes the development, evolution, and application of the earthquake design force provisions for elements of structures and nonstructural components.

Ethical Dilemmas and Seismic Design

1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-504
Author(s):  
Tom Spector
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Design ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Seismic Safety ◽  
Seismic Code ◽  
Ongoing Effort ◽  
Seismic Forces

Most research in the ongoing effort to improve building seismic safety has been devoted to improving building code methodology by refining the techniques of analysis and prediction of seismic forces. This agenda has left little room for the observation that how the code is regarded and interpreted by structural designers may have as much to do with overall seismic safety as do the code's written provisions. The purpose of this investigation is to look at both how the seismic code is viewed by practicing professional engineers and explore a range of ethical dilemmas entailed by interpreting the code. In conclusion, a case is made to consider interpretation of the seismic code to be an ethical, as well as technical matter; one that can be successfully addressed by a community of professionals acting together.

Major Changes in Concrete-Related Provisions-1997 UBC and Beyond

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-162
Author(s):  
S. K. Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Design ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Earthquake Hazards ◽  
Structural Concrete ◽  
Seismic Codes ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Reduction Program ◽  
Design Requirements ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Made In

U.S. seismic codes are undergoing profound changes as of this writing. Changes from the 1994 to the 1997 edition of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) (ICBO 1994, 1997) are many and far-reaching in their impact. The 1997 edition of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings (BSSC 1998) contains further evolutionary changes in seismic design requirements beyond those of the 1997 UBC. The latter document will form the basis of the seismic design provisions of the first edition of the International Building Code (IBC), to be published in the spring of 2000. This paper first discusses the major changes that have been made in the concrete-related provisions from the 1994 to the 1997 edition of the UBC. The paper gives background to these changes, provides essential details on them, and indicates how they have been or how they are going to be incorporated (at times with significant modifications) into the 1997 NEHRP Provisions and the 2000 IBC. The newly published ACI 318-99, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 1999), is going to be adopted by reference into the 2000 IBC. This entails further changes in concrete-related provisions beyond the 1997 UBC. Some of the more important of these changes are discussed here. A small number of amendments and additions to the ACI 318-99 provisions are going to be included in the 2000 IBC. The more important of these are also outlined in this paper.

scholarly journals The Behavior of Flat Slab and Conventional RC Slab for Multi-Storey Buildings with Passive Energy Dissipating Devices Situated in High Seismic Zone.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 566-576
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Call Centers ◽  
Earthquake Resistance ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Flat Slab ◽  
Rc Slab ◽  
Seismic Forces ◽  
Resistant Structure ◽  
Construction Practice

The disaster safe construction practice for an engineer is a most difficult job. Today we have witnessed these natural disasters at its peak. Even after all highly skilled techniques used for constructions these natural disasters-like floods, earthquake, landslides etc.… are not negotiable. However, we are learning lessons from these disasters and upgrading ourselves so that a resistant structure is constructed. Among these disasters, the less predictable the less comprehended and highly disastrous is an earthquake. Even after the development of technology this disaster is highly unpredictable. Conventional attempts to make a building earthquake resistance which do not collapse under strong seismic forces has proved to be satisfactory but these techniques will cause a damage to non-structural components such as glass, window, door etc.… (OR) even some times the failure of structural components which leads to non-functionality of a building, but it should be noted that building like corporate offices, call centers, hospitals etc.… must remain functional even after the earthquake. Hence special techniques are required to design the buildings to overcome above problem. Passive energy dissipating devices is the technique used to dissipate the energy incorporated in the building due to an earthquake.

October 1871

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Leslie
Keyword(s):  
Building Code ◽  
American City ◽  
Similar Composition ◽  
Hard Times ◽  
The City ◽  
New Buildings

This chapter details the reconstruction of Chicago following the Great Fire. Chicago grew faster than any American city through the depression-scarred 1870s. By 1880 its population reached half a million, nearly doubling in size since the Fire. In 1879 just under 1100 new buildings were constructed in the city, but in 1883 there were over 4000. The city's building code, developed in the conservative years of the depression, came under increasing pressure as the motive to build higher returned with new investment. The emergence of the tall skyscraper was gradual, and the convergence of Chicago skyscrapers toward remarkably similar composition, proportions, and even detail occurred in several loosely defined steps between the end of the “hard times” around 1879 and the flourishing of what was called the “Chicago Style” or “Chicago Construction” of the late 1880s.

Performance of Structures in Indonesia during the December 2004 Great Sumatra Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 295-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Saatcioglu ◽  
Ahmed Ghobarah ◽  
Ioan Nistor
Keyword(s):  
Tsunami Wave ◽  
Seismic Damage ◽  
Indian Ocean Tsunami ◽  
Masonry Walls ◽  
Sumatra Earthquake ◽  
Physical Infrastructure ◽  
Engineered Structures ◽  
Engineering Significance ◽  
Seismic Forces ◽  
Banda Aceh

A reconnaissance was conducted in Indonesia to investigate the effects of the 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami on buildings, bridges, and other physical infrastructure. The infrastructure in the coastal regions of Banda Aceh was completely devastated by both tsunami wave pressures and seismic ground excitations. The damaging effects of the tsunami were most pronounced in unreinforced masonry walls, nonengineered reinforced concrete buildings, and low-rise timber-framed buildings. Engineered structures survived the tsunami pressure, but many suffered extensive damage due to seismic forces. The majority of the seismic damage was attributed to poor design and detailing of nonductile buildings. Specific observations made during the reconnaissance indicate the engineering significance of the disaster.

Seismic Design of Pultruded FRP Structures as Ancillary and/or Independent Solution

2017 ◽  
Vol 747 ◽  
pp. 586-593
Author(s):  
Giosuè Boscato ◽  
Giorgio Costantini ◽  
Vincenzo Scafuri
Keyword(s):  
New Technology ◽  
Independent Solution ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Polymers ◽  
Finite Element Models ◽  
Reinforced Polymers ◽  
Masonry Construction ◽  
First Case ◽  
Mechanical Performances ◽  
Seismic Forces ◽  
New Buildings

The civil engineering fields of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymers) pultruded profiles are the structural rehabilitation of the existing constructions and the new buildings. In the first case the FRP intervention is ancillary to masonry construction as beams and trusses for roofs and floors; while, in the second case, the all-FRP structures are for over elevation frame, emergency and specific structures in complex conditions. The non-linear responses of masonry structures with truss beams made of pultruded FRP profiles and traditional materials have been compared through finite element models subjected to the seismic forces. Furthermore, the seismic response of all-FRP building with concentric diagonal braces has been analysed. For both applications it is possible to assert that despite the absence of ductile behaviour of FRP pultruded material, the new technology guarantees a dissipative response through the global ductility and the effect of the low self-weight related to the mechanical performances.

scholarly journals Perspectives of building professionals on the use of LCA tools in Swedish climate declaration

2021 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 13004
Author(s):  
Gireesh Nair ◽  
Åke Fransson ◽  
Thomas Olofsson
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Legal Requirement ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
New Buildings

From 1st January 2022, Swedish government plan to introduce the climate declarations as a legal requirement for new buildings. LCA is a method that could be used to quantify buildings’ climate impact. The climate declaration in the Swedish building code expects to create interest in LCA among stakeholders. This study aims to identify and understand the challenges and opportunities of using LCA by stakeholders during the early stage of construction process. The study is based on responses from six building professionals to a questionnaire. The policy implications of the study findings are discussed.

The Borah Peak, Idaho Earthquake of October 28, 1983—Summary

1985 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Lawrence D. Reaveley
Keyword(s):  
Salt Lake ◽  
Salt Lake City ◽  
Fault Scarp ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Earthquake Epicenter ◽  
Mining Communities ◽  
Lake City ◽  
Seismic Area ◽  
The Town ◽  
Historic Seismicity

The Borah Peak, Idaho earthquake of October 28, 1983 occurred at 8:07 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time. This earthquake, which had a Richter magnitude of 7.3, was the largest earthquake to occur in Idaho in recorded history (since 1872). The epicenter was located approximately 30 km northwest of the town of MacKay (Fig. 1), in central Idaho (see also Taylor, et al). The earthquake shook eight northwestern states. Some minor damage to buildings was reported as far away as Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho. The epicenter is located in the center of large Zone 2 seismic area, as designated in the 1982 Uniform Building Code. This area was an area of low historic seismicity and had previously been designated a Zone 3 area in the 1979 UBC. Two small Idaho communities are located some distance beyond the ends of the fault scarp. MacKay is approximately 21 km (13 mi.) southeast of the earthquake epicenter and 24 km (15 mi.) from the southern end of the scarp. Challis is located approximately 60 km (40 mi.) north-northwest of the epicenter and 19 km (12 mi.) beyond the northern end of the surface faulting (Taylor et al). Challis has the largest population which varies from 1,000 to 2,500 depending on the time of the year. MacKay is the second largest, with a population of approximately 500. The balance of the 4,000 to 5,000 people that live in the area live on ranches and in small mining communities.

Criticism of Current Seismic Design and Construction Practice in Venezuela: A Bleak Perspective

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1265-1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary R. Searer ◽  
Eduardo A. Fierro
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Seismic Design ◽  
Large Earthquake ◽  
Lateral Force ◽  
Structural System ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Design Philosophy ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Typical Design ◽  
Construction Practice

During a recent visit to Caracas, Venezuela, the authors discovered that while Venezuela has adopted a building code with modern seismic provisions (Norma Covenin 1756-98) and does in fact enforce a majority of these provisions, significant conceptual errors in the design of the lateral force-resisting systems of new buildings are recurring on a near-universal level, often as a result of ignoring the potential adverse effects of nonstructural elements on the structural system. In the event of a large earthquake, this design philosophy will have substantial economic and life-safety repercussions unless the typical design philosophy of Venezuelan engineers and architects changes. It is hoped that this paper will serve as a call to action for engineers of all countries to recognize the potential adverse effects of nonstructural elements on the behavior of the lateral force-resisting system.

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