Study on Earthquake Damage Distribution of Multistory Masonry Buildings
The main components which affect the earthquake damage grades classification of multistory masonry build- ings and the damage characters are summarized and analyzed through the statistics and analysis of a large number of pre- vious earthquake damage data. According to the standard of earthquake damage grades classification, the damage num- bers of each component of multistory masonry buildings under different earthquake damage indexes are analyzed quanti- tatively and the calculation formulas based on the relationship between the damage numbers of components and the earth- quake damage index under different cases are given; Based on the structural analysis of multistory masonry buildings and the research of earthquake damage data, the calculation formulas of the earthquake damage distributions in different floors and main components' different positions on the same floor of multistory masonry buildings are given, which provides us a platform to objectively understand the earthquake damage distribution of multistory masonry buildings; The earthquake damage distribution is an important factor to affect the realistic degree of the 3-D damage models in the scene simulation system for earthquake disaster, this paper also provides a theoretical basis for the modeling of the 3-D damage models of multistory masonry structure; Finally, the earthquake damage distribution of the bearing wall of a five-storey masonry building in the minor damage has been given as an example.
Seismic assessment of St. James church by means of pushover analysis : before and after the New Zealand earthquake
The paper presents a numerical study for the seismic assessment of the St James Church in Christchurch, New Zealand affected by the recent 2011 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. The structural behavior of the Church has been evaluated using the finite element modelling technique, in which the nonlinear behavior of masonry has been taken into account by proper constitutive assumptions. Two numerical models were constructed, one incorporating the existing structural damage and the other considering the intact structure. The validation of the numerical models was achieved by the calibration of the damaged model according to dynamic identification tests carried out in situ after the earthquake. Non-linear pushover analyses were carried out on both principal directions demonstrating that, as a result of the seismic action, the Church can no longer be considered safe. Pushover analysis results of the undamaged model show reasonable agreement with the visual inspection performed in situ, which further validates the model used. Finally, limit analysis us- ing macro-block analysis was also carried out to validate the main local collapse mechanisms of the Church.
Seismic Evaluation of Low-Rise Reinforced Masonry Buildings with Flexible Diaphragms: III. Synthesis and Application
This paper outlines the last two phases of a joint research study performed by the University of Texas at Austin and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center (CERL). The study coordinates and synthesizes experimental testing, analytical modeling, practical implementation, and real-world application to enhance FEMA-310, the predominant seismic evaluation methodology for low-rise reinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms. In earlier phases of study, conclusions from shaking-table testing, quasi-static testing, and analytical modeling were used to develop a simple tool for the seismic analysis of these types of buildings. In this paper, the tool is developed in the context of performance-based earthquake engineering into a supplementary evaluation methodology intended to fill a gap in FEMA-310. The tool is applied to four existing buildings and ultimately shown to be simple, useful, and necessary.