Drywalls are the typical infill or partitions used in new structures. They are usually located within structural frames and/or between upper and lower floor slabs in buildings. Due to the materials used in their construction, unlike masonry blocks, they can be considered as light non-structural infill/partition walls. These types of walls are especially popular in New Zealand and the USA. In spite of their popularity, little is known about their in-plane cyclic behaviour when infilled within a structural frame. The cause of this lack of knowledge can be attributed to the typical assumption that they are weak non-structural elements and are not expected to interact with the surrounding structural system significantly. However, recent earthquakes have repeatedly shown that drywalls interact with the structure and suffer severe damage at very low drift levels. In this paper, experimental test results of two typical drywall types (steel and timber framed) are reported in order to gather further information on; i) their reverse cyclic behaviour, ii) inter-storey drift levels at which they suffer different levels of damage, iii) the level of interaction with the surrounding structural frame system. The drywall specimens were tested using quasi-static reverse cyclic testing protocols within a full scale precast RC frame at the Structures Laboratory of the University of Canterbury.
Latimer Square, Christchurch File reference: CCL-2012-04-06-LatimerSquare-April-2012-DSC_0859.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Christchurch Hospital Chimney. File reference: CCL-2012-02-20-CanterburyBrewery-February-2012 DSC_148.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shipping containers against the cliff on the road to Sumner, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2012-05-12-Around-Sumner-May-2012 DSC_021.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shipping containers against the cliff on the road to Sumner, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2012-05-12-Around-Sumner-May-2012 DSC_015.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shipping containers against the cliff on the road to Sumner, Christchurch. Photograph taken 12 May 2012 File reference: CCL-2012-05-12-Around-Sumner-May-2012 DSC_006.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shipping containers against the cliff on the road to Sumner, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2012-05-12-Around-Sumner-May-2012 DSC_018.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shipping containers against the cliff on the road to Sumner, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2012-05-12-Around-Sumner-May-2012 DSC_009.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shipping containers against the cliff on the road to Sumner, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2012-05-12-Around-Sumner-May-2012 DSC_020.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
A story submitted by Phil Bell to the QuakeStories website.
A story submitted by Josine Giacometti to the QuakeStories website.
A story submitted by Philip Cockburn to the QuakeStories website.
A story submitted by Tommaso to the QuakeStories website.
A story submitted by Margaret Jefferies to the QuakeStories website.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 3 June 2012 entitled, "Reduced Resilience".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 18 July 2012 entitled, "Flying Food".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 6 August 2012 entitled, "Luke's Labyrinth".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 7 August 2012 entitled, "Good Graffiti".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 23 December 2012 entitled, "Eastern Empathy".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 17 December 2012 entitled, "Demolition Drumming".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 13 December 2012 entitled, "Ward's Water".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 21 December 2012 entitled, "Demolition Developments".
An entry from Roz Johnson's blog for 2 June 2012 entitled, "Granny Graffiti".
A tribute in the form of a pink wire and fabric butterfly attached by wire to a green stick.
A digitally manipulated image of a statue of the Virgin Mary in a broken window of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The photographer comments, "Before the February 2011 earthquake the statue above was facing into the Cathedral looking down a corridor, but after it had turned 180 degrees to point towards the window. The statue of Mary turning like this gave a sign of hope for the people of Christchurch. It was amongst one of the most photographed things after the earthquake until it was removed".
Video of an interview with Tom Hooper, Chief Executive of the Canterbury Development Corporation, about the experiences of businesses in the aftermath of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Hooper talks about the changes in the workforce, business innovation, and the benefits of collaboration in Christchurch. He also talks about the importance of having a disaster recovery plan. This video is part of a series about businesses in Christchurch after the earthquakes.
A digitally manipulated image of a broken window. The photographer comments, "There is hardly anything left of Christchurch's proud heritage buildings. Most older buildings were made of brick and though they should have had improvements to make them withstand a medium earthquake most did not. They were badly damaged when hit with a series of earthquakes that were up to 2.2g at the epicentre and 1.88g in the City".
Offers new lyrics to familiar Christmas carols based on current events in Christchurch, New Zealand. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a aerial representation of Christchurch's eastern suburbs with the course of the Avon River. The new river course spells the word 'munted'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Refers to the Christchurch manufacturer of Sanitarium marmite that has been forced to close down because of earthquake damage. There is a national shortage which is causing much grief. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).