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Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a bookcase in the Civil Suite at the University of Canterbury after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The photograph was taken on the day when the staff were allowed to return to the building. The shelves of the bookcase have been removed, exposing damage along the sides where they knocked against the back panel. Some books have been left on the bottom shelf.

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

Two days after the 22 February 2011 M6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, three of the authors conducted a transect of the central city, with the goal of deriving an estimate of building damage levels. Although smaller in magnitude than the M7.1 4 September 2010 Darfield earthquake, the ground accelerations, ground deformation and damage levels in Christchurch central city were more severe in February 2011, and the central city was closed down to the general public. Written and photographic notes of 295 buildings were taken, including construction type, damage level, and whether the building would likely need to be demolished. The results of the transect compared favourably to Civil Defence rapid assessments made over the following month. Now, more than one year and two major aftershocks after the February 2011 earthquake these initial estimates are compared to the current demolition status to provide an updated understanding of the state of central Christchurch.

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

The sequence of earthquakes that has affected Christchurch and Canterbury since September 2010 has caused damage to a great number of buildings of all construction types. Following post-event damage surveys performed between April 2011 and June 2011, the damage suffered by unreinforced stone masonry buildings is reported and different types of observed failures are described. A detailed technical description of the most prevalently observed failure mechanisms is provided, with reference to recognised failure modes for unreinforced masonry structures. The observed performance of existing seismic retrofit interventions is also provided, as an understanding of the seismic response of these interventions is of fundamental importance for assessing the vulnerability of similar strengthening techniques when applied to unreinforced stone masonry structures.

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

Unrestrained unreinforced clay brick masonry (URM) parapets are found atop a large number of vintage URM buildings. Parapets are typically non-structural cantilevered wall elements that form a fire barrier and in most cases form decorative and ornamental features of vintage URM buildings. Parapets are considered to be one of the most vulnerable elements that are prone to out-of-plane collapse when subjected to earthquake induced shaking. An in-depth analysis of the damage database collected following the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes was performed to obtain information about the distribution, characteristics and observed performance of both the as-built and retrofitted parapets in the Christchurch region. Results, statistical interpretation and implications are presented herein. http://www.aees.org.au/downloads/conference-papers/2015-2/

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

The Manchester Courts building was a heritage building located in central Christchurch (New Zealand) that was damaged in the Mw 7.1 Darfield earthquake on 4 September 2010 and subsequently demolished as a risk reduction exercise. Because the building was heritage listed, the decision to demolish the building resulted in strong objections from heritage supporters who were of the opinion that the building had sufficient residual strength to survive possible aftershock earthquakes. On 22 February 2011 Christchurch was struck by a severe aftershock, leading to the question of whether building demolition had proven to be the correct risk reduction strategy. Finite element analysis was used to undertake a performance-based assessment, validating the accuracy of the model using the damage observed in the building before its collapse. In addition, soil-structure interaction was introduced into the research due to the comparatively low shear wave velocity of the soil. The demolition of a landmark heritage building was a tragedy that Christchurch will never recover from, but the decision was made considering safety, societal, economic and psychological aspects in order to protect the city and its citizens. The analytical results suggest that the Manchester Courts building would have collapsed during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and that the collapse of the building would have resulted in significant fatalities.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

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.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

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.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

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.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

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.

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

Following the magnitude 6.3 aftershock in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 22 February 2011, a number of researchers were sent to Christchurch as part of the New Zealand Natural Hazard Research Platform funded “Project Masonry” Recovery Project. Their goal was to document and interpret the damage to the masonry buildings and churches in the region. Approximately 650 unreinforced and retrofitted clay brick masonry buildings in the Christchurch area were surveyed for commonly occurring failure patterns and collapse mechanisms. The entire building stock of Christchurch, and in particular the unreinforced masonry building stock, is similar to that in the rest of New Zealand, Australia, and abroad, so the observations made here are relevant for the entire world.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of administrators and technicians from the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury enjoying a barbeque outside the Avonhead Baptist Church. The students and staff from this department used the church as a base after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, until their building on campus was deemed safe to enter.