The Borah Peak, Idaho Earthquake of October 28, 1983—Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in Mackay, Idaho

1985 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Reitherman
Keyword(s):  
Unreinforced Masonry ◽  
Earthquake Resistance ◽  
Masonry Buildings ◽  
Masonry Construction ◽  
Wood Frame

Damage to buildings in Mackay, Idaho during the October 28, 1983 Borah Peak earthquake was largely limited to unreinforced masonry construction, including the unreinforced masonry chimneys of wood frame dwellings. Except for chimneys, which typically collapsed or were severely damaged, the level of damage was only slight to moderate, even though the earthquake resistance of the construction was very low, even for unreinforced masonry.

scholarly journals The building features acquired from the indigenous technology contributing in the better performance during earthquake: a case study of Bhaktapur City

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 41-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipendra Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Unreinforced Masonry ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Masonry Buildings ◽  
Construction Technology ◽  
Engineering Construction ◽  
Masonry Construction ◽  
Earthquake Resistant Design ◽  
Earthquake Resistant ◽  
Historical Database

This paper compiles the indigenous technologies adopted in the Bhaktapur municipality, Nepal in the unreinforced masonry construction of traditional Newari houses constituting more than 90% buildings in Bhaktapur municipality and their significance during the earthquake. The building units adopted in this area are studied with respect to their performance during earthquake on the basis of seismic resistant design philosophy. The traditionally built non-engineered buildings have drawn the attention of disaster managers for many years; in this regard, the unreinforced masonry buildings (Newari houses) were assessed after the Sikkim-Nepal boarder earthquake of 2011.Still, the buildings constructed before the starting of engineering construction in Nepal are widely used for residential purpose at this culturally rich city and the traditional building construction technology which is the indigenous technology has been practiced for centuries too. The building features are analyzed with respect to their seismic performance and their contribution was analyzed as per the historical database; established practices and theories for earthquake resistant design (EQRD). The collected features and the analyses proved the features of the buildings to be sound during earthquake, though; the buildings were constructed with indigenous technology which nevertheless consults the EQRD within it. The indigenous technology at this city has been attached with the culture of the Newars for centuries.

Damage to masonry buildings caused by the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe, Japan) earthquake

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 797-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Bruneau ◽  
Koji Yoshimura
Keyword(s):  
Unreinforced Masonry ◽  
Masonry Buildings ◽  
Masonry Structures ◽  
Design Codes ◽  
Epicentral Area ◽  
The Past ◽  
Masonry Construction ◽  
Kobe Earthquake ◽  
Reinforced Masonry ◽  
A Minor

The seismic performance of the few masonry structures present in the Kobe area and subjected to the severe Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake is a minor concern when compared to the overwhelming damage suffered by other types of structures. However, in order to dispel the myth that masonry structures are nonexistent in Japan as well as a few other misconceptions, and for the sake of completeness within the concerted multipaper reporting effort on the Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake by the Canadian reconnaissance team which visited the epicentral area of this earthquake, a brief description of the past and present state of masonry construction in Japan is first presented, followed by a short description of the damage to unreinforced masonry buildings, masonry garden-walls, and nonstructural masonry elements, as observed by the authors during their visits to the Kobe area. Key words: earthquake, seismic, masonry, buildings, bearing walls, unreinforced masonry, reinforced masonry, failures, design codes.

Performance of masonry structures during the 1994 Northridge (Los Angeles) earthquake

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 378-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Bruneau
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Unreinforced Masonry ◽  
Masonry Building ◽  
Masonry Buildings ◽  
Masonry Structures ◽  
Northridge Earthquake ◽  
Seismic Evaluation ◽  
Masonry Construction ◽  
Reinforced Masonry ◽  
The Impact

The surface magnitude 6.8 Northridge earthquake which struck the Los Angeles area on January 17, 1994, damaged a large number of engineered buildings, of nearly all construction types. As earthquakes of at least similar strength are expected to occur in most of eastern and western Canada, the study of the effects of this earthquake is of particular significance to Canada. This paper, as part of a concerted multi-paper reporting effort, concentrates on the damage suffered by masonry buildings during this earthquake, and explains why the various types of observed failures occurred. The seismic performance of all masonry construction similar to that commonly found in Canada is reviewed, but a particular emphasis is placed on providing an overview of damage to unreinforced masonry structures which had been rehabilitated before this earthquake. To provide a better appreciation of the impact of this earthquake on masonry buildings, and a better assessment of the engineering significance of their damage in a Canadian perspective, this paper first reviews the evolution of building code requirements for unreinforced masonry buildings up to the seismic retrofit ordinances enacted prior to this earthquake. Examples of various damage types, as observed by the author during his reconnaissance visit to the stricken area, are then presented, along with technically substantiated descriptions of the causes for this damage, and cross-references to relevant clauses from Canadian standards and codes, as well as the recently published Canadian Guidelines for the Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings, whenever appropriate. Key words: earthquake, unreinforced masonry, seismic rehabilitation, retrofit, retrofitted masonry building, reinforced masonry, buildings, failure, collapse, heritage buildings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document