H. Kit Miyamoto, Ph.D., SE and Amir SJ Gilani, Ph.D., SE The M-7.8 earthquakes (Nepal 2015 and Ecuador 2016) caused massive damage to the built environment and affected societies severely. In Nepal, the earthquake caused nearly 9,000 fatalities and destroyed more than 600,000 structures. Economic impact was roughly a quarter […]
Seismic Risk Assessment for Northern Haiti Based on Geotechnical Investigation and Building Typographies
Amir SJ Gilani, H. Kit Miyamoto, Michael E. Kalinski, and Tsutomu Nifuku Northern Haiti is vulnerable to damage from potential earthquakes that can result in catastrophes nearing or exceeding the 2010 event. The Septentrional-Oriente Fault Zone passing close to the major cities including Cap Haitien, Ft. Liberte, and Port de […]
2015 ASCE Seismic Viscous Dampers: Enhanced performance and cost effective application of PBE
H. Kit Miyamoto, Amir SJ Gilani Performance-based design with seismic protection devices such as viscous dampers have fundamentally altered the landscape of earthquake engineering and design. Structures designed and built without such devices typically use a code-prescribed design that implies extensive structural damage, loss of operation, and likely replacement at […]
Design of Structures with Dampers per ASCE 7-16 and Performance for Large Earthquakes
An impediment to the use of seismic protection devices has been the difficulty for practicing engineers to design buildings with isolation system or damping devices. ASCE/SEI task committees charged with development of new generation of codes for seismic design and retrofit of buildings have updated the relevant code sections with […]
Damage Assessment of Seismic Retrofit Midrise Buildings Nepal WCEE 2017
The magnitude-7.8 earthquake on April 25, 2015 and its many aftershocks, including the magnitude-7.3 aftershock on May 12, 2015, caused massive damage to the built environment in Nepal. Near the epicenter, it had a maximum Mercalli Intensity (MMI) of IX. It is estimated that it caused over 9000 fatalities and […]
Cost-Effective Seismic Isolation Retrofit of Heritage Cathedrals in Haiti WCEE 2017
Historic and heritage have sustained severe damage and collapse in recent earthquakes, including in Italy (2009), Haiti (2010) and New Zealand (2011). The main vertical and lateral load bearing members for these buildings are typically comprised of unreinforced masonry stone/rubblewalls. These walls have experienced both in plane and out-of-plane failures […]
Seismic Viscous Dampers A Cost-Effective Solution with Enhanced Performance for Retrofit and New Construction
The application of seismic protection devices such as dampers has fundamentally altered the landscape of earthquake engineering and design. Structures designed and built without such devices typically use a code-prescribed design that implies extensive structural damage, loss of operation, and likely replacement at design-level events. By contrast, seismic design incorporating earthquake protection devices leads […]
Seismic Isolation Retrofit of a Historical Cathedral in Haiti
The 2010 Haiti Earthquake devastated the country and resulted in many casualties and enormous damage to infrastructure. Following the event, the authors visited the country, conducted a damage assessment program, and developed retrofit programs. While the bulk of retrofit has focused on traditional upgrade of residential units, seismic protection devices […]
Global Experience: Seismic Risk Reduction And Disaster Reconstruction Programs
Nearly 40% of the largest cities in the world and hundreds of millions of people live in areas that can experience major earthquakes, resulting in large numbers of casualties, and placing a large burden on the regional and national economy. Earthquakes in Haiti and Christchurch have had long-term impact on […]
Proposed New Approach for the Seismic Evaluation Testing of Suspended Ceilings Systems
The application of seismic protection devices such as dampers has fundamentally altered the landscape of earthquake engineering and design. Structures designed and built without such devices typically use a code-prescribed design that implies structural damage, loss of operation, and possible replacement at design-level events. By contrast, seismic design incorporating earthquake […]
