Report on the damage to FRP water tanks by The Great Hanshin Earthquake

摘要

The Great Hanshin Earthquake that took place in the dawn of January 17, 1995 brought about unprecedented disasters to the Hanshin area. The size of the earthquake was recorded as a magnitude of 7.2. The acceleration observed near the epicenter was the largest in the history of earthquake observation in Japan. In this earthquake, damage that could not be explained by conventional engineering theory was observed, such as the destruction of buildings, highways and underground structures. Much damage to water tanks made of FRP were reported. However, damage to those water tanks manufactured after the revision of the earthquake resistant standards based on the revised construction standard act (1981) was much smaller than that on tanks made before the act. Damage to ceilings of many water tanks was also reported in this earthquake which were not observed previously and which therefore also characterizes this particular earthquake. [References: 7]