Performance Evaluation of CWH Base Isolated Building During Two Major Eart…

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

The seismic performance and parameter identification of the base isolated Christchurch Women’s Hospital (CWH) building are investigated using the recorded seismic accelerations during the two large earthquakes in Christchurch. A four degrees of freedom shear model is applied to characterize the dynamic behaviour of the CWH building during these earthquakes. A modified Gauss-Newton method is employed to identify the equivalent stiffness and Rayleigh damping coefficients of the building. The identification method is first validated using a simulated example structure and finally applied to the CWH building using recorded measurements from the Mw 6.0 and Mw 5.8 Christchurch earthquakes on December 23, 2011. The estimated response and recorded response for both earthquakes are compared with the cross correlation coefficients and the mean absolute percentage errors reported. The results indicate that the dynamic behaviour of the superstructure and base isolator was essentially within elastic range and the proposed shear linear model is sufficient for the prediction of the structural response of the CWH Hospital during these events.

Design of base-isolated buildings: An overview of international codes

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

Base isolation is arguably the most reliable method for providing enhanced protection of buildings against earthquake-induced actions, by virtue of a physical separation between the structure and the ground through elements/devices with controlled force capacity, significant lateral deformation capacity and (often) enhanced energy dissipation. Such a design solution has shown its effectiveness in protecting both structural and non-structural components, hence preserving their functionality even in the aftermath of a major seismic event. Despite lead rubber bearings being invented in New Zealand almost forty years ago, the Christchurch Women's hospital was the only isolated building in Christchurch when the Canterbury earthquake sequence struck in 2010/11. Furthermore, a reference code for designing base-isolated buildings in New Zealand is still missing. The absence of a design standard or at least of a consensus on design guidelines is a potential source for a lack of uniformity in terms of performance criteria and compliance design approaches. It may also limit more widespread use of the technology in New Zealand. The present paper provides an overview of the major international codes (American, Japanese and European) for the design of base-isolated buildings. The design performance requirements, the analysis procedures, the design review process and approval/quality control of devices outlined in each code are discussed and their respective pros and cons are compared through a design application on a benchmark building in New Zealand. The results gathered from this comparison are intended to set the basis for the development of guidelines specific for the New Zealand environment.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 9

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of students falling through a bridge into the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 12

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 14

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of three students standing on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 1

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a student falling through a bridge into the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 8

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 4

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a student walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 5

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 3

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a student walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 6

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 2

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a student walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 7

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of two students walking on a bridge across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

The history of design guidelines and details of reinforced concrete column…

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

Existing New Zealand (NZ) building stock contains a significant number of structures designed prior to 1995 with non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Recent earthquakes and research show that columns with such details perform poorly when subjected to seismic demand, losing gravity load carrying capacity at drift levels lower than the expected one. Therefore, in order to have a better understanding of existing RC columns in NZ, the history of these elements is investigated in this paper. The evolution of RC column design guidelines in NZ standards since the 1970s is scrutinized. For this purpose, a number of RC columns from Christchurch buildings built prior to 1995 are assessed using the current code of practice.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 15

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of four students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 13

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of three students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 24

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of seven students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 20

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of six students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 18

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of five students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 17

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of five students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 28

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of eight students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 23

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of six students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 26

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of seven students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 27

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of seven students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 22

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of six students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 21

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of six students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 19

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of five students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 16

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of four students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 25

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of seven students on a bridge they have constructed across the Avon River, outside the UCSA building. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.

2015 - Engineering Bridge Challenge Photograph 10

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a crowd of students sitting on the bank of the Avon River outside the UCSA building in 2015. The students are gathered to watch the annual Engineering Bridge Challenge event.