Observations from the EERI Team
The SVA first organized after the September 2010 earthquake. Nearly 2,500 students and community members volunteered to help remove liquefaction after that event. Looking back, Sam realized that this was an important “dry run” for the massive spontaneous volunteer operation that he and a core group of other dedicated individuals would coordinate in February and […]
Observations from the EERI Team
Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Figure 8. Learning from Earthquakes: First person reports
Observations on Industrial Non-Structural Damage from the EERI Team
Several of the industrial businesses were located in pre-cast concrete tilt-up buildings which were observed to have damage to their panel connection at both the roof and at adjacent panels. The industrial steel structures that were visited typically appeared to perform adequately with the exception of selected tension only bracing, which was observed to have […]
Observations on Concrete Buildings from the EERI Team
Failures of concrete structures by far the biggest threat to life-safety Even though there was a far greater number of unreinforced masonry building failures as compared to concrete structures, the collapse of midrise concrete structures led to a disproportionate loss of life. Non-ductile concrete structural damage was generally as expected, but many of these structures […]
Observations on Industrial Buildings from the EERI Team
Today I spent the day entirely outside the Christchurch Business District (CBD). Nathan and I were following up on a contact given us by one of the volunteer engineers doing building assessments. The purpose of today was to look at damage to industrial facilities and how they fared during the recent event. We spent most […]
Condolences to Christchurch
Growing up here in the 60-80s, I heard about the flood risk, but was unaware of the earthquake risk in Christchurch and certainly had no comprehension of liquefaction and lateral spread potential here. An analysis of earthquake risk and associated hazards in Christchurch was published in Risk and Realities in 1997. However, earthquake research and […]
Moratorium on Social Science Research
Enquiries were made about the activities of the social scientist traveling with EERI LFE. Following conversations with those concerned (David Johnstone (GNS) and Sarah Beaven (University of Canterbury)) the social science research statement was revised from recommending delaying social scientist visits to recognizing that social scientists are embedded in the EERI LFE team for the […]
Updates from the EERI Team
The EERI team is in the EOC waiting for assignment to inspection teams (pictures below). It is important to know that all the engineers on our team have all volunteered 3-6 days each. We have done our reconnaissance as part of these inspection teams, and this is the only way that anyone had access to […]
Earthquake Impacts to Rockfall Risk Management
Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. The volcanic rocks in this area are comprised of basaltic and trachytic lavas with interbedded breccias creating a blocky mass. On the ~500m slopes above the coastal road recent rockfall (up to 5m x 3m […]
Observations on Nonstructural Damage by the EERI Team
This earthquake has provided textbook examples of non-structural damage in concrete office and commercial buildings in the Central Business District (CBD). Figure 1. Offices. Figure 2. Sprinkler pipes broken by ceiling systems dumped water in to offices. Figure 3. Pipes broken. Figure […]