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Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated image of the window of the Two Fat Indians restaurant. The photographer comments, "These two fat Indians seem to have lost weight since the restaurant was closed due to earthquake damage".

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.

Videos, UC QuakeStudies

A video of an interview with Helen and Edna Yates about their Worcester Street house which is to be demolished due to earthquake damage. The 96-year-old identical twins lived in the house for 95 years before it was damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The video includes footage of Helen and Edna visiting the house before it is demolished.

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

Earthquake Engineering is facing an extraordinarily challenging era, the ultimate target being set at increasingly higher levels by the demanding expectations of our modern society. The renewed challenge is to be able to provide low-cost, thus more widely affordable, high-seismic-performance structures capable of sustaining a design level earthquake with limited or negligible damage, minimum disruption of business (downtime) or, in more general terms, controllable socio-economical losses. The Canterbury earthquakes sequence in 2010-2011 has represented a tough reality check, confirming the current mismatch between societal expectations over the reality of seismic performance of modern buildings. In general, albeit with some unfortunate exceptions, modern multi-storey buildings performed as expected from a technical point of view, in particular when considering the intensity of the shaking (higher than new code design) they were subjected to. As per capacity design principles, plastic hinges formed in discrete regions, allowing the buildings to sway and stand and people to evacuate. Nevertheless, in many cases, these buildings were deemed too expensive to be repaired and were consequently demolished. Targeting life-safety is arguably not enough for our modern society, at least when dealing with new building construction. A paradigm shift towards damage-control design philosophy and technologies is urgently required. This paper and the associated presentation will discuss motivations, issues and, more importantly, cost-effective engineering solutions to design buildings capable of sustaining low-level of damage and thus limited business interruption after a design level earthquake. Focus will be given to the extensive research and developments in jointed ductile connections based upon controlled rocking & dissipating mechanisms for either reinforced concrete and, more recently, laminated timber structures. An overview of recent on-site applications of such systems, featuring some of the latest technical solutions developed in the laboratory and including proposals for the rebuild of Christchurch, will be provided as successful examples of practical implementation of performance-based seismic design theory and technology.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Damaged seating in the QEII stadium. The photographer comments, "This is the QEII stadium in Christchurch. During the 22 February earthquake the stadium was severely damaged and looks like it will be demolished. Anyone in Bay 3 would have no need of the toilet after this happened".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated image of a shop window, with a poster of Elvis Costello visible inside. The photographer comments, "This picture of a young Elvis Costello looks hauntingly out from a badly earthquake damaged shop in Christchurch".