It is well known that buildings constructed using unreinforced masonry (URM) are susceptible to damage from earthquake induced lateral forces that may result in partial or full building collapse. The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes are the most recent New Zealand example of destructive earthquakes, which have drawn people's attention to the inherent seismic weaknesses of URM buildings and anchored masonry veneer systems in New Zealand. A brief review of the data collected following the 2010 Darfield earthquake and more comprehensive documentation of data that was collected following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake is presented, along with the findings from subsequent data interrogation. Large stocks of earthquake prone vintage URM buildings that remain in New Zealand and in other seismically active parts of the world result in the need for minimally invasive and cost effective seismic retrofit techniques. The principal objective of the doctoral research reported herein was to investigate the applicability of near surface mounted (NSM) carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips as a seismic improvement technique. A comprehensive experimental program consisting of 53 pull tests is presented and is used to assess the accuracy of existing FRP-to-masonry bond models, with a modified model being proposed. The strength characteristics of vintage clay brick URM wall panels from two existing URM buildings was established and used as a benchmark when manufacturing replica clay brick test assemblages. The applicability of using NSM CFRP strips as a retrofitting technique for improving the shear strength and the ductility capacity of multi-leaf URM walls constructed using solid clay brick masonry is investigated by varying CFRP reinforcement ratios. Lastly, an experimental program was undertaken to validate the proposed design methodology for improving the strength capacity of URM walls. The program involved testing full-scale walls in a laboratory setting and testing full-scale walls in-situ in existing vintage URM buildings. Experimental test results illustrated that the NSM CFRP technique is an effective method to seismically strengthen URM buildings.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Knox Church on the corner of Bealey Avenue and Victoria Street. The gable walls have crumbled, exposing the wooden structure inside. Wire fencing, road cones and cordon tape have been placed around the building as a cordon.
Damage to Lyttelton following the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Forbes' Store on Norwich Quay with a broken awning and damage visible on the brick walls. Scaffolding placed around the building since the 4 September 2010 earthquake has tumbled during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Damage to Lyttelton following the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Forbes' Store on Norwich Quay with a broken awning and damage visible on the brick walls. Scaffolding placed around the building since the 4 September 2010 earthquake has tumbled during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
The corner of Colombo Street and Kilmore Street in the aftermath of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The walls of several buildings along Colombo Street have collapsed, including Sala Thai Restaurant, which has spilled bricks onto the road. A bus has stopped alongside the building and police officers can be seen walking along the road.
A house on Avonside Drive showing damage from the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Numerous cracks in the masonry can be seen, and several sections of brick have fallen off the walls. The building's porch has also collapsed. A pile of dried liquefaction is visible in the driveway.
A photograph taken near the intersection of Manchester Street, Lichfield Street and High Street. A mural has been painted on a brick wall. Behind this is the old Post Office building (now C1 Espresso). There is a sculpture by Ronnie Van Hout on the roof.
The facade of the building housing the Daily Bagel and the Covent Fruit Centre has fallen away, leaving the building unstable and dangerous. The front wall has toppled onto the footpath leaving a pile of bricks. The front windows of this and surrounding buildings have been spray-painted with USAR codes 'No Go' and the times they were checked.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Asko Design building on Victoria Street. Mod's Hair can be seen to the right. The top of the facade of Asko Design has crumbled and fallen into the street, taking the awning with it. The side wall has also collapsed, exposing the inside of the building. Wire fencing and tape have been used to cordon the buildings off.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Asko Design building on Victoria Street. Mod's Hair can be seen to the right. The top of the facade of Asko Design has crumbled and fallen into the street, taking the awning with it. The side wall has also collapsed, exposing the inside of the building. Wire fencing and tape have been used to cordon the buildings off.
A photograph taken near the intersection of Manchester Street, Lichfield Street and High Street. A mural has been painted on a brick wall. Behind this, the old Post Office building which now houses C1 Espresso can be seen with Ronnie Van Hout's sculpture on the roof.
A view down London Street in Lyttelton, looking east from Canterbury Street. To the left, the damaged Volcano Cafe can be seen, with bricks from the side wall still on the road and wire fencing around the building. A road sign reading, "Road closed" has been placed in front of the street ahead.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a block of shops on Manchester Street including While you Wait Studios, Aji Global Grocery & Chocolateria, and Peaches and Cream. Sections of the wall above crumbled, the bricks falling to the footpath and destroying the awnings. The rubble has been cleared from the footpath.
one of Christchurch's abandoned suburbs. The land moved - bricks and block walls everywhere collapsed - two multi story buildings folded - 184 people died. Wooden framed houses largely stayed up, many concrete slabs cracked, power poles leaned in liquid ground, surface bubbled, services ruptured .... damage to the cbd still gets the most cover...
A photograph of paper hearts pegged on the cordon fence around the Chinese Methodist Church on Papanui Road. Quotes on the hearts read, "'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.' Psalm 23", "'We can do no great things; only small things with great love.' Mother Teresa, and, "'Peace begins with a smile,' Mother Teresa". In the background, the earthquake damage to the Christchurch Chinese Methodist Church can be seen. The wall of the gable has crumbled, the bricks spilling onto the grass below.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Marsha Witehira had the bricks from the wall of her house fall onto her bed where she was sleeping. Both sides of her house have collapsed".
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.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Marsha Witehira had the bricks from the wall of her house fall onto her bed where she was sleeping. Both sides of her house have collapsed".
One portrait colour digital photograph taken on 25 February 2011 showing the damaged façade of a two storey shop on Norwich Quay. The brick wall has completely fallen off the top storey and crushed a car parked on the footpath outside. Damage to the Lyttelton Hotel is visible to the left of the photo. The design of many older commercial build...
A photograph of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team posing for a photograph on Lichfield Street. In the background is the earthquake-damaged John Burns & Co. Ltd Building. The top storey of the side wall of the building has collapsed and the rubble has spilled into the car park below. Several cars which were crushed by the falling rubble have been stacked next to the building.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Marsha Witehira had the bricks from the wall of her house fall onto her bed where she was sleeping. Both sides of her house have collapsed. Witehira (L) is comforted by a friend".
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a group of stores on Manchester Street including the While You Wait Studio, Smith's Bookshop, Aji Global Grocery & Chocolateria and Curios Bric-a-Brac. Sections of the front wall have crumbled, the bricks falling to the footpath and damaging the awnings. Plastic fencing has been placed along the road as a cordon.
A photograph of an earthquake-damaged building on the corner of Colombo Street and St Asaph Street. The walls of the top storey of the building have crumbled, and bricks and other rubble have fallen onto the footpath and road below. In the background are many other earthquake-damaged buildings. Wire fencing and police tape have been placed across the street as a cordon.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch Earthquake. A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit Christchurch and the wider South Island, causing widespread damage, two serious injuries and power cuts to most of the city. Marsha Witehira had the bricks from the wall of her house fall onto her bed where she was sleeping. Both sides of her house have collapsed. Witehira (R) is comforted by a friend".
The damaged Knox Church on Bealey Avenue. The brick walls have collapsed, exposing the wooden structure beneath. The photographer comments, "Bealey Avenue is open to traffic, as are many of the side streets, and the damage to buildings along this street is quite impressive and perhaps just a small taste of the damage that lies beyond the cordon ... At the Hagley Park end of Bealey Avenue lies the Knox Church. This church suffered in the first earthquake and featured in the news a fair bit at the time. It's crazy to think that all that appeared to be damaged then were some bricks that had fallen from near the roof. Now, Knox Church is all but a wooden frame holding up a roof. It's eerie to drive past this large church and be able to look straight through it to trees on the other side".
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a group of stores on Manchester Street including Peaches and Cream, the While You Wait Studio, Smith's Bookshop, Aji Global Grocery & Chocolateria and Curios Bric-a-Brac. Sections of the front wall have crumbled, the bricks falling to the footpath and damaging the awnings. Plastic fencing has been placed along the road as a cordon.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team inside an earthquake-damaged house. The wall to the left has collapsed and has been covered with plastic sheeting. Bricks and other rubble cover the floor of the room. A chest of drawers with clothing still inside has toppled to the left and is resting on the rubble.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Iconic Bar and the former Christchurch City Council offices on Manchester Street. The outer walls of the Council offices and the top storey of Iconic have collapsed, exposing the insides of the buildings. The bricks and other rubble have been cleared from the footpath in front. USAR codes have been spray-painted next to the entrance of Iconic.
Damaged workshops in the Red Bus depot on Fitzgerald Avenue. The brick walls have partially crumbled. In the background is the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, with its dome partly deconstructed. The photographer comments, "This photo was taken recently on Fitzgerald Avenue. Again, it's amazing how close you can get to buildings that look like they are about to collapse. In the background, you can see that work has begun to remove the dome on top of the damaged Cathedral of he Blessed Sacrament".