The structural role played by masonry infills on RC building performances after the 2011 Lorca,Spain, earthquake

On May 11, 2011 an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 ( \(M_{w}\) ) struck Murcia region causing nine casualties and damage to buildings and infrastructures. Even if the main characteristics of the event would classify it as a moderate earthquake, the maximum Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) registered (equal to 0.37 g) exceeded significantly local code provisions in terms of hazard at the site. This high PGA was a result of directivity effects in the near source region. An overview of earthquake characteristics and damage observed is provided. Notwithstanding the lack of proper structural design characterizing building stock in the area, most of the losses were caused by non-structural damage. According to in field observations, it emerges that masonry infills provided additional, “not designed”, strength to reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. Observed damage data, collected after the earthquake, are shown and compared to the results of a simplified approach for nonstructural damage assessment of RC infilled structures (FAST vulnerability approach). The latter comparison provided a fair accordance between observed data and analytical results.     

汶川地震房屋震害的一些现象分析

The MS8.0 Wenchuan earthquake caused a great deal of damage and collapse to engineering structures. Survey of disaster and engineering damage was made in detail by the authors and other researchers in the extreme earthquake disaster area. The paper makes an overview of the earthquake disaster status and damage phenomena which include brick-concrete buildings, frame structures, brick-wood structures, and timber frame residential buildings. Furthermore, the causes of the disaster and building damage phenomena are briefly discussed. In addition, some typical damage phenomena are specialized. According to the phenomena mentioned above, some feasible seismic measures are suggested for the development of buildings in future.     

基于无人机影像的九寨沟地震建筑物震害定量评估

利用2017年8月8日九寨沟7.0级地震震后获取的无人机影像,结合地面震害调查资料,分析各类建筑物震害特征,建立建筑物震害无人机遥感解译标志;选取地震灾区漳扎镇(部分区域)和荷叶寨2个区域作为研究区,进行了无人机遥感建筑物震害提取,基于遥感震害指数进行了震害定量评估,并与现场建筑物震害调查统计结果进行了比较验证。结果显示,遥感解译建筑物震害与实际震害程度相吻合,表明利用震后快速获取的高分辨率无人机影像,可以较为准确地识别建筑物震害,进而为地震灾害定量评估和应急救援辅助决策提供重要参考。     

Characteristics of Seismic Damage of Buildings: Constraints from Tilt Photography Technology

In this paper, the tilt photography data acquisition and three-dimensional modeling of the Tashkurgan M_S5.5 earthquake in Xinjiang are conducted using the tilt photography system of the Rotor UAV. The three-dimensional model is used to interpret the earthquake damage on buildings in the mega-earthquake area in order to acquire different-level house damage in the Kuzirun village disaster area. In addition, the characteristics of seismic damage on typical buildings are analyzed. The results show that the main collapsed houses in the mega-earthquake area are sand-stone buildings, of which about 39% are sand-stone buildings. Several brick-wood buildings and brick-concrete buildings are seriously damaged, while the buildings with frame structures are mainly slightly damaged, and the houses near the macro-epicenter of the earthquake are all in good conditions. Three-dimensional tilt photography technology can vividly display the scene of earthquake disaster, and can provide significant demonstration in building damage degree together with detailed analysis of disaster situation.     

Performance-based methodology for assessing seismic vulnerability and capacity of buildings

This paper presents a performance-based methodology for the assessment of seismic vulnerability and capacity of buildings. The vulnerability assessment methodology is based on the HAZUS methodology and the improved capacity- demand-diagram method. The spectral displacement (Sd) of performance points on a capacity curve is used to estimate the damage level of a building. The relationship between Sd and peak ground acceleration (PGA) is established, and then a new vulnerability function is expressed in terms of PGA. Furthermore, the expected value of the seismic capacity index (SCev) is provided to estimate the seismic capacity of buildings based on the probability distribution of damage levels and the corresponding seismic capacity index. The results indicate that the proposed vulnerability methodology is able to assess seismic damage of a large number of building stock directly and quickly following an earthquake. The SCev provides an effective index to measure the seismic capacity of buildings and illustrate the relationship between the seismic capacity of buildings and seismic action. The estimated result is compared with damage surveys of the cities of Dujiangyan and Jiangyou in the M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, revealing that the methodology is acceptable for seismic risk assessment and decision making. The primary reasons for discrepancies between the estimated results and the damage surveys are discussed.     

Performance of the Yangbi MS 6.4 earthquake disaster in different geomorphic units in Yunnan

An M_S 6.4 earthquake occurred in Yangbi, Yunnan province, on May 21, 2021. According to related investigations, the macro-epicenter of the earthquake is 6 km northwest of Yangbi County, and the seismogenic structure is the NW-trending Weixi-Qiaohou fault. The earthquake area is located in the hinterland of the Hengduan Mountains in the northwest of Yunnan province, a region dominated by high and medium-high mountains, with deep canyons and tectonic basins in between. Various geomorphic features are derived from drastic topographic changes and huge geological differences in the earthquake area. There are a variety of buildings in the earthquake-affected zone, including civil and brick-wood structures ones with weak seismic performance, as well as brick-concrete and frame ones with better seismic performance. This paper summarizes and analyzes different characteristics of the earthquake in different geomorphic units through field investigations of different buildings and geological disasters in the affected area. The results show that under the same earthquake intensity, the damage to most buildings (located in slope areas or rooted in weak strata) is amplified by the earthquake. The earthquake has exerted an obvious propagation effect along the direction of the seismogenic structure. Moreover, local ground fissures will aggravate the damage to the buildings even without surface dislocation. Thus, we suggest that attention should be paid to the ground fissures caused by the slope effect. The fissure areas may also be the disaster spot of collapses and landslides in case of a high-magnitude earthquake.     

Observations of damage due to the Kashmir earthquake of October 8, 2005 and study of current seismic provisions for buildings in Pakistan

On October 8, 2005 an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 (M _w) struck the Kashmir region of Pakistan causing widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure. This paper summarizes field observations of building damage made by the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) after the event, where the performance of residential, commercial and government buildings was investigated. A study of the seismic design provisions currently in place in Pakistan is presented and compared with seismic provisions of EC8 (1998) and UBC (1997). Several problems are identified for the implementation of the Pakistan seismic code in its current form and recommendations are made for its improvement in order to be used for the reconstruction of affected areas.     

A Preliminary Analysis of the Earthquake Disaster of Buildings during Two Destructive Earthquakes in Xinjiang

This paper introduces the characteristics of earthquake disasters in the 2013 Urumqi M_S5.1 and the 2015 Pishan M_S6.5 earthquakes, which are directly beneath the cities. Based on the discussion on regional tectonic background, site conditions, seismic fortification level of buildings, we preliminarily analyzed the causes of earthquake disaster for buildings caused by the two earthquakes.Finally,we give some advice on earthquake resistance for residential buildings and earthquake damage prevention in Xinjiang.     

The aftermath of 2011 Van earthquakes: evaluation of strong motion, geotechnical and structural issues

October 23rd, 2011 M _L 6.7 (M _w 7.2 KOERI) Tabanli-Van Earthquake caused damage in a widespread area specifically in the settlement regions throughout the Lake Van. A number of 58 buildings totally collapsed during the shake with 52 of them however, reported to be in Ercis district. 17 days after this destructive event, another earthquake of M _L 5.6 hit the region again on the 9th of November having the epicentral location at Edremit district. The second earthquake mostly affected the central region of Van province with a number of 25 totally collapsed buildings and furthermore it significantly increased the existing structural damages. Strong motion records from both earthquakes and their impacts on structures as well as geotechnical issues are studied in this paper. Extensive liquefaction triggered lateral spread, landslide and slope failure cases were observed mainly at non-residential areas. Soil amplification is evaluated to be one of the main reasons for the heavy damage occurred in Ercis. Furthermore, site investigations and damage assessment performed after each earthquake proved that the observed damages are strongly correlated with insufficient qualities of structural materials, inadequate detailing and poor workmanship.     

无人机遥感技术在新疆皮山地震灾情获取中的应用

2015年07月03日,新疆维吾尔自治区和田地区皮山县（37.6°N,78.2°E）发生M_S6.5级地震,震源深度10km。本文利用高性能无人机数据采集平台获取灾区高分辨率影像数据,结合地震现场震害调查建立建筑物震害遥感解译特征,采用人工目视解译完成了灾区6个0.01°×0.01°格网评估区房屋类型及损毁程度应急遥感调查,获取测区地震灾情信息。结果表明:测区内房屋结构类型主要包括土木、砖木、砖混结构;倒塌房屋主要为土木结构及个别老旧砖木结构房屋,倒塌和局部倒塌的土木结构房屋占评估区土木结构房屋总数的68%,倒塌和局部倒塌的砖木结构房屋占评估区砖木结构房屋总数的12%;测区砖混结构房屋局部倒塌1间,未倒塌228间,砖混结构显示出良好的抗震性能,对避免人员伤亡和减少经济损失起到重要作用。     

Seismic response evaluation of base-isolated reinforced concrete buildings under bidirectional excitation

This paper reports on an investigation of the seismic response of base-isolated reinforced concrete buildings, which considers various isolation system parameters under bidirectional near-fault and far-fault motions. Three-dimensional models of 4-, 8-, and 12-story base-isolated buildings with nonlinear effects in the isolation system and the superstructure are investigated, and nonlinear response history analysis is carried out. The bounding values of isolation system properties that incorporate the aging effect of isolators are also taken into account, as is the current state of practice in the design and analysis of base-isolated buildings. The response indicators of the buildings are studied for near-fault and far-fault motions weight-scaled to represent the design earthquake (DE) level and the risk-targeted maximum considered earthquake (MCE_R) level. Results of the nonlinear response history analyses indicate no structural damage under DE-level motions for near-fault and far-fault motions and for MCE_R-level far-fault motions, whereas minor structural damage is observed under MCE_R-level near-fault motions. Results of the base-isolated buildings are compared with their fixed-base counterparts. Significant reduction of the superstructure response of the 12-story base-isolated building compared to the fixed-base condition indicates that base isolation can be effectively used in taller buildings to enhance performance. Additionally, the applicability of a rigid superstructure to predict the isolator displacement demand is also investigated. It is found that the isolator displacements can be estimated accurately using a rigid body model for the superstructure for the buildings considered.     

Earthquake performance assessment and rehabilitation of two historical unreinforced masonry buildings

The paper describes the earthquake performance assessment of two historical buildings located in Istanbul exposed to a M_w = 7+ earthquake expected to hit the city and proposes solutions for their structural rehabilitation and/or strengthening. Both buildings are unreinforced clay brick masonry (URM) structures built in 1869 and 1885, respectively. The first building is a rectangular-shaped structure rising on four floors. The second one is L-shaped with one basement and three normal floors above ground. They survived the 1894, M_s = 7.0 Istanbul Earthquake, during which widespread damage to URM buildings took place in the city. Earthquake ground motion to be used in performance assessment and retrofit design is determined through probabilistic and deterministic seismic hazard assessment. Strength characteristics of the brick walls are assessed on the basis of Schmidt hammer test results and information reported in the literature. Dynamic properties of the buildings (fundamental vibration periods) are measured via ambient vibration tests. The buildings are modelled and analyzed as three-dimensional assembly of finite elements. Following the preliminary assessment based on the equivalent earthquake loads method, the dynamic analysis procedure of FEMA 356 (Pre-standard and commentary for the seismic rehabilitation of buildings, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, 2000) and ASCE/SEI 41-06 (Seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, 2007) is followed to obtain dynamic structural response of the buildings and to evaluate their earthquake performance. In order to improve earthquake resistance of the buildings, reinforced cement jacketing of the main load carrying walls and application of fiber reinforced polymer bands to the secondary walls are proposed.     

混凝土高层建筑结构地震破坏抗毁能力评估

提出基于构件性能的混凝土高层建筑结构地震破坏抗毁能力评估方法,采用强度与延性法分析混凝土高层建筑构件强度和变形,以对强震作用下混凝土高层建筑结构性能实施准确描述。基于建筑结构性能以及多条地震波情况下高层建筑结构倒塌极限状态的分析规范,采用IDA方法设置建筑结构抗倒塌能力系数,并依据该系数获取基于构件性能的混凝土高层建筑结构地震破坏抗毁能力评估流程,实现建筑结构地震破坏抗毁能力的准确评估。实验结果说明,所提方法实现了混凝土高层建筑结构地震破坏抗毁能力的准确评估。     

Nonlinear soil response as a natural passive isolation mechanism. Paper II. The 1933, Long Beach, California earthquake

The areas that experienced large strains and differential motions in the soil (indicated by breaks in the water and gas pipe distribution systems) and the areas with severely damaged buildings showed remarkable separation during the March 10, 1933, Long Beach, California earthquake. With analogous results for the 1994 Northridge, California earthquake [Soil Dynam. Earthquake Engng. 17 (1998) 41], the observations summarized in this paper show the fallacy of simplistic and popular interpretations, such as those that hold that in the near field the damage to buildings is caused by ‘soft’ or ‘bad ground’ conditions. In fact, significant reduction in the potential damage to buildings may be expected in the areas where the soil experiences ‘moderate to large’ strains.     

Description and analysis of building damage due to Pyrgos, Greece earthquake

On March 1993 an earthquake of magnitude M_s = 5·5 shook Pyrgos, a town in Western Peloponnissos, one of the most seismic prone areas in Greece. The damage induced to modern reinforced concrete buildings was rather light in contrast to the damage induced to historic and traditional buildings of adobe, stone or brick masonry which was severe. In order to study the causes of structural damage, detailed data are collected from a rather large statistical sample of 1023 masonry buildings and 22 reinforced concrete framed buildings with visible damage. For each building the number of storeys, the material of construction, as well as the type and the degree of damage are recorded. In addition, consideration is given to the site of the building within the town and the corresponding soil conditions. For reinforced concrete buildings, damage occured mostly in areas with relatively high estimated spectral accelerations and fundamental soil periods of vibration close to those of the buildings. Nevertheless, further analysis is required to explain the selective damage of a very small number of buildings. For masonry houses, the effect of soil conditions is more systematic. Moreover, the effects of the number of storeys as well as the age and material of construction appear to be dominant.     

Observations and implications of damage from the magnitude Mw 6.3 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake of 22 February 2011

This paper describes the observations made by a reconnaissance team following the 22nd February 2011, M_w 6.3, Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake (GNS Science, 2011). The team comprised of members of the UK based Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team who spent 5 days collecting observations on damage resulting from the earthquake. Although the magnitude of this earthquake was not particularly high (M_w 6.3), the shallow focus and close proximity resulted in locally very high ground motions, widespread damage and 182 fatalities. The earthquake is also particularly notable for the widespread liquefaction it caused, landslides and rockfalls in the hills south of Christchurch, and the significant damage suffered by unreinforced masonry and historic structures. Over wide areas of central Christchurch, recorded accelerations were in excess of those required by the current New Zealand seismic loadings standard (NZS1170.5:2004: Standards New Zealand 2004) and therefore the earthquake presented a valuable opportunity to assess performance of modern buildings under code-level ground acceleration.     

Damage costs for commercial and industrial property as a function of intensity in the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake

This paper describes an analysis of damage costs to commercial and industrial property, including buildings (all low-rise), their contents, equipment and stock, in the M_s = 6.6 Edgecumbe New Zealand earthquake of 2 March 1987. The damage costs were converted to damage ratios by dividing by the value of the relevant property item. For the MM7 and MM9 intensity zones, the mean values and statistical distributions of these damage ratios were then found, the lognormal distribution fitting well. For all commercial and industrial buildings in the MM intensity IX zone (centroid MM9-4) the mean damage ratio was 0.076. The mean damage ratios were generally much smaller than estimated in previous studies. The buildings were all low-rise. There was no correlation between building and equipment damage ratios on a building by building basis. Considering dates of construction, it appears that mean damage levels at MM9 have not changed significantly for postcode buildings through changes in design standards up to the 1980s.     

Damage distribution during the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake relative to generalized categories of surficial geology

The spatial distributions of severely damaged buildings (red-tagged) and of breaks in the water distribution system following the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake (M_L = 6·4) are investigated relative to the local characteristics of surficial geology. The pipe breaks are used as an indicator of nonlinear soil response, and the red-tagged buildings as indicator of severe shaking. The surficial geology is described by several generalized categories based on age, textural character and thickness of the near surface layer. Two regions are studied: the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles-Santa Monica. The analysis shows that there is no simple correlation between damage patterns and surficial geology. Single family wood-frame buildings were damaged less when built on fine silt and clay (0–3 m thick) from the late Holocene.     

Preliminary prediction of damage to residential buildings following the 21st August 2017 Ischia earthquake

On August 21st, 2017, an earthquake with duration magnitude M_d?=?4.0 and epicentre in Casamicciola Terme hit Ischia island, in the South of Italy. This event caused two fatalities and dozens of injured people. Moreover, despite the low magnitude, the earthquake produced significant damages to masonry and reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, with some partial or complete collapse of structures, in a very limited area close to the epicentre, while even at small distance from the most damaged zone the earthquake was just felt by local people and tourists. In the days after the event, discussions concerning the destructive effects of such an earthquake arose in the scientific community—as also reported by local and national media. In this paper, the seismic history of Ischia island is recalled to show and explain the peculiarity of the August 21st earthquake, which is also described in terms of ground motion and response spectra characteristics. The results of the first surveys carried out in Casamicciola Terme are reported, together with appropriate pictures, to introduce and explain the observed damage state of masonry and RC buildings in the epicentral zone. Then, data from the 15th general census of the population and dwellings (ISTAT) is used to define vulnerability classes according to the classification of the European Macrosismic Scale (EMS-98) (Grünthal, 1998). Seismic damage scenarios are then evaluated combining macro-seismic intensity values obtained using an interpolation method starting from QUEST macro-seismic survey data (Azzaro et al., 2017 ) and fragility curves for A-to-D vulnerability classes and for five damage states, from DS0 (no damage) to DS5 (collapse) trough a Monte Carlo simulation technique. The distributions of Usable, Temporarily or Partially Unusable, and Unusable buildings, which are obtained by using relationships between damage and usability judgments obtained through post-earthquake damage data collected after past seismic events, result in very good accordance with those published in September 1st, 2017 by the Department of Civil Protection, regarding a dataset of about 600 buildings.     

2018年9月8日云南墨江M5.9地震震害综述

2018年9月8日10时31分29秒,云南省墨江县(23.28°N,101.53°E)发生M5.9地震。根据现场调查情况,详细阐述地震灾区房屋建筑结构特点、房屋建筑及生命线工程震害特征,给出房屋建筑震害矩阵,对其震害成因进行分析,并与省内近年相似震级的地震震害进行对比分析,结果表明:本次地震波及范围广、总体震害轻、无人员死亡、地质灾害轻。