Innovations in Earthquake and Natural Hazards Research: Unreinforced Masonry Buildings

摘要

Results are presented of research on unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. An extensive survey of URM buildings in six regions of the country was undertaken to identify the characteristics of those buildings. A computer model was developed to pretest and predict the responses of walls and diaphragms when subjected to simulated ground motion. Tests were conducted on specimen walls and diaphragms and on existing URM buildings to confirm and refine the methodology. A cost effective means was found for evaluating and retrofitting URM buildings to withstand earthquakes. Use of this innovation occurred as a result of important events during the life of the research project, including a series of workshops held for officials, engineers, and building owners to acquaint them with the research, and active dissemination of project results.