Seismic retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings using posttensioning has been the topic of many recent experimental research projects. However, the performance of such retrofit designs in actual design level earthquakes has previously been poorly documented. In 1984 two stone masonry buildings within The Arts Centre of Christchurch received posttensioned seismic retrofits, which were subsequently subjected to design level seismic loads during the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. These 26 year old retrofits were part of a global scheme to strengthen and secure the historic building complex and were subject to considerable budgetary constraints. Given the limited resources available at the time of construction and the current degraded state of the steel posttension tendons, the posttensioned retrofits performed well in preventing major damage to the overall structure of the two buildings in the Canterbury earthquakes. When compared to other similar unretrofitted structures within The Arts Centre, it is demonstrated that the posttensioning significantly improved the in-plane and out-of-plane wall strength and the ability to limit residual wall displacements. The history of The Arts Centre buildings and the details of the Canterbury earthquakes is discussed, followed by examination of the performance of the posttension retrofits and the suitability of this technique for future retrofitting of other historic unreinforced masonry buildings. http://www.aees.org.au/downloads/conference-papers/2013-2/
A photograph looking east down Cashel Street towards the intersection of Colombo Street. A section of one of the buildings on the left has collapsed and the rubble has spilled onto the street. A van has been crushed by the fallen rubble. The message, 'clear', has been spray-painted on the windscreen of the van. In the foreground signs from several shops are still on the street. There is also earthquake damage to the building on the right. Sections of this building's facade have crumbled and the bricks have spilled onto the street below, damaging the awning.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a group of shops on the corner of Barbadoes Street and Edgeware Road. The second storey of the shops has collapsed, and the bricks have fallen to the footpath, taking the awnings with them. Police tape and road cones have been placed around the buildings as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a group of shops on the corner of Barbadoes Street and Edgeware Road. The second storey of the shops has collapsed, and the bricks have fallen to the footpath, taking the awnings with them. Police tape and road cones have been placed around the buildings as a cordon.
A view across Worcester Street in Linwood to a block of shops showing severe damage after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The businesses include Talon Arms and Wick's Fish. Masonry and structural components from the buildings has collapsed onto the footpath and road. A sign in front of Talon Arms has been spray painted with the words, "Guns gone".
A sign on the wire fencing in front of the Ground Culinary Centre on the corner of London and Canterbury Streets. The sign reads, "Ground has moved to Dublin Street at the Four Ships/Top Club & takeaway food in caravan outside Portico". The background, the original store can be seen, damaged severely after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A residential property on Waygreen Avenue in New Brighton. A note reads, 'Don't bother digging! Thanks anyway'. This family moved out after the February earthquakes, due to damage from liquefaction. The stone made the house heavy so it sank and suffered from silt and water creating mould and other problems inside the house".
A photograph of staff from the Department of Physics and Astronomy from the University of Canterbury recovering parts of the Townsend Telescope from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The telescope was housed in the tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was severely damaged when the tower collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of staff from the Department of Physics and Astronomy from the University of Canterbury recovering parts of the Townsend Telescope from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The telescope was housed in the tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was severely damaged when the tower collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph looking south down Manchester Street from the intersection of Lichfield and High Streets. Rubble has been cleared from the street and stacked next to the earthquake-damaged stores to the right. A member of an emergency management team is standing on the street in the distance with a truck and an excavator behind them.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a building on Lichfield Street. Masonry from the top section of the building has broken away and spilled onto the footpath below. A red sticker has been placed on the door, indicating that the building is unsafe to enter. USAR codes have been spray-painted on the column and window to the right.
A photograph looking north up an alleyway on Tuam Street. The alleyway leads to Sol Square. There is a road cone in the middle of the alleyway. The message 'keep out' has been spray-painted on the ground on each side of the cone. In the distance there are bricks from several earthquake-damaged buildings in the alleyway.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Cranmer Courts on the corner of Montreal and Kilmore Streets. The top of the closest gable has broken and is now covered in a tarpaulin. In the distance, a chimney has also been removed. Wire fencing and road cones have been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the John Burns & Co. Ltd building on Lichfield Street. The top section of the side wall has collapsed and the bricks have spilled onto the car park below, exposing the inside of the building. Several crushed cars have been removed from the car park and stacked on the street.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a building on Gloucester Street. The building is part of Stonehurst Accommodation. The bottom storey of the building has collapsed and the top two storeys are resting on the rubble. The closest wall of the building has also collapsed and is resting on top of the rubble to the right of the building.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Stonehurst Accommodation on Gloucester Street. The bottom storey of the closest building has collapsed and the top two storeys are sitting on a pile of rubble. More rubble has also spilled into the driveway to the right. Wire fencing has been placed around the buildings as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house on Major Hornbrook Drive. The chimney has collapsed and many of the tiles have been lifted on the roof. Tarpaulins have been laid over the holes in the roof as waterproofing, but the closest has shredded. Gaps can be seen between the bricks in the wall and the wall to the left has crumbled.
A photograph of an earthquake-damaged house. Wooden bracing has been placed in between the house and the fence, with wires connecting the top of the bracing to the peak of the roof. Emergency management personnel are in the driveway to the right. In the foreground a section of the brick fence at the front of the property has toppled.
A photograph of the site of a demolished house on the corner of Springfield Road and Bealey Avenue. "No go" has been spray-painted on the earthquake-damaged fence. Wire fencing and police tape has been placed across the entrance as a cordon. In the background, rubble from the demolished building can be seen.
A photograph of rubble from a number of earthquake-damaged buildings on Bealey Avenue. Bricks from the building in the distance have spilled onto the footpath in front and wire fencing has been used to cordon it off. In the foreground, rubble from a demolished house can be seen. Cordon tape reading "danger keep out" has been draped across the fence.
A photograph of Anderson and Hill Sports Power on the corner of St Asaph and Colombo Streets. Wire fences have been placed across the street as a cordon. In the background, rubble from earthquake-damaged buildings and crushed cars line the left side of the road. There is also foliage from a fallen tree.
A photograph of a house on Glenarm Terrace in Dallington. The chimney fell off the roof during the September earthquake and the bricks are still lying on the ground. A tarpaulin has been placed over the top of the hole to prevent water damage inside the house. Ironically, it has been weighed down with bricks.
A photograph of a house on Glenarm Terrace in Dallington. The chimney fell off the roof during the September earthquake and the bricks are still lying on the ground. A tarpaulin has been placed over the top of the hole to prevent water damage inside the house. Ironically, it has been weighed down with bricks.
A photograph of a house on Glenarm Terrace in Dallington. The chimney fell off the roof during the September earthquake and the bricks are still lying on the ground. A tarpaulin has been placed over the top of the hole to prevent water damage inside the house. Ironically, it has been weighed down with bricks.
A photograph of emergency management personnel standing next to an earthquake-damaged house. The wall on the left side of the house has collapsed and the bricks have spilled into the driveway in front. Wooden bracing has been placed in between the house and the fence, with wires connecting the top of the bracing to the peak of the roof.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house on Woodham Road. The bottom storey of the house has crumbled, bringing the top storey to the ground. A large pile of bricks and two bay windows now lie beneath the top storey. A red sticker on one of the bay windows indicates that the house is unsafe to enter.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Provincial Hotel on the corner of Barbadoes and Cashel Streets. The second storey walls have crumbled, and the bricks have fallen onto the ground below. Scaffolding erected in front of the building is now on a lean. Wire fencing has been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house on Major Hornbrook Drive. The chimney has collapsed and many of the tiles have been lifted on the roof. Tarpaulins have been laid over the holes in the roof as waterproofing, but the closest has shredded. Gaps can be seen between the bricks in the wall and the wall to the left has crumbled.
A photograph of earthquake-damaged buildings and rubble on Colombo Street near the intersection of St Asaph Street. The walls of the top storey of the buildings to the left have crumbled, and bricks and other rubble have fallen onto the footpath and road below. Wire fencing and police tape have been placed across the street as a cordon.
A photograph of earthquake-damaged buildings and rubble on Colombo Street near the intersection of St Asaph Street. The walls of the top storey of the buildings to the left have crumbled, and bricks and other rubble have fallen onto the footpath and road below. Wire fencing and police tape have been placed across the street as a cordon.