Historic and heritage building present a unique class of structures. These buildings form a cultural pillar of the communities and thus require preservation. However, given their vintage, they have sustained severe damage and collapse in recent earthquakes, including in Italy (2009), Haiti (2010) and New Zealand (2011). The main vertical […]
Application of Seismic Dampers to Special Moment Frames
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 […]
Applying Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment to the Development of a Seismic Retrofit Program for Public Schools in Metro Manila, Philippines
Fluid Viscous dampers are added to building to protect its structural, nonstructural components, and contents. Dampers are designed to resist forces produced by the maximum considered earthquake. The efficacy of dampers in providing seismic protection and the code-prescribed methodology for design of these units have been well established and have been validated by the […]
Large Scale World Bank Seismic Risk Reduction Program for Public Buildings
Under the auspices of the World Bank, a multi-step risk assessment project has been recently completed for Metropolitan Manila, Philippines, the country’s primary commercial and business center, the 11th most populous metropolis in the world, with 12 million (13% of the national population). This area is susceptible to multihazard natural […]
Response of Structures with Viscous Dampers Subjected to Large Earthquakes
Fluid Viscous dampers are added to building to protect its structural, nonstructural components, and contents. Dampers are designed to resist forces produced by the maximum considered earthquake. The efficacy of dampers in providing seismic protection and the code-prescribed methodology for design of these units have been well established and have been validated by the […]
Global Seismic Risk Reduction Programs: International Perspective on the Successful Application in Istanbul
Worldwide, a large percentage of school and hospital buildings in areas of high seismicity, constructed of unreinforced masonry or non-ductile concrete, have been vulnerable to damage from earthquake and have suffered disproportional damage and collapse resulting in loss of life and in particular injuries and fatalities.. The performance of school […]
State-of-the-art Application of Seismic Isolation to Ancient Heritage Cathedrals 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 […]
Best Design Practices for Seismic Evaluation and Preservation of Historic Buildings
Two historic and distinctive building complexes, located in downtown Sacramento, were targeted for seismic evaluation and rehabilitation as part of the city’s seismic safety and downtown revitalization program. This evaluation provided a unique opportunity to examine new seismic systems and perform benefit-cost analyses. Complex 1 was originally constructed in the […]
Earthquake Reconnaissance of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake and Retrofit Options
On 12 May 2008, a magnitude 7.9/8.0 earthquake struck China, approximately 80 km west of Chengdu in the Sichuan (Wenchuan) province and 1550 km southwest of Beijing. This event occurred on one of the faults that run along the base of the Longmenshan Mountains marking the boundary of the Tibetan […]
Design and Construction of a Modern Post-tensioned Parking Structure
The parking structure on the California State University, Sacramento, campus comprises two connected six-story units, totaling approximately 1 million square feet and 3,000 stalls. Figure 1 is a recent photograph of the structure, looking east. International Parking Design was the architect of record, and Miyamoto International was the structural engineer […]
