
The 4th of September 2010 Mw 7.1 Darfield (Canterbury) earthquake had generated significant ground shaking within the Christchurch Central Business District (CBD). Despite the apparently significant shaking, the observed structural damage for pre-1970s reinforced concrete (RC) buildings was indeed limited and lower than what was expected for such typology of buildings. This paper explores analytically and qualitatively the different aspects of the "apparent‟ good seismic performance of the pre-1970s RC buildings in the Christchurch CBD, following the earthquake reconnaissance survey by the authors. Damage and building parameters survey result, based on a previously established inventory of building stock of these non-ductile RC buildings, is briefly reported. From an inventory of 75 buildings, one building was selected as a numerical case-study to correlate the observed damage with the non-linear analyses. The result shows that the pre-1970s RC frame buildings performed as expected given the intensity of the ground motion shaking during the Canterbury earthquake. Given the brittle nature of this type of structure, it was demonstrated that more significant structural damage and higher probability of collapse could occur when the buildings were subjected to alternative input signals with different frequency content and duration characteristics and still compatible to the seismicity hazard for Christchurch CBD.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown Greendale Faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
The faultline cuts across Telegraph Road, leaving a kink in its originally straight alignment; aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Efforts are being made to shore up and strengthen this building (corner of Hereford Street / Manchester Street) to save it from demolition after it suffered structural damage in the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Christchurch on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
The faultline cuts across Telegraph Road, leaving a kink in its originally straight alignment; aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
The faultline cuts across Telegraph Road, leaving a kink in its originally straight alignment; aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
The faultline cuts across Telegraph Road, leaving a kink in its originally straight alignment; aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 3 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
This originally straight farm fence has been laterally displaced at least 2 metres where it crosses the previously unknown faultline from which the Saturday 4 September 2010 earthquake originated.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Slipping of the tectonic plates caused tension cracks on this previously unknown faultline that runs through this paddock; magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
Collapsed silos at David Bell Daffodil Farm in Leeston; aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.
The faultline cuts across Telegraph Road, leaving a kink in its originally straight alignment; aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in mid-Canterbury on Saturday 4 September 2010.