Search

found 775 results

Research papers, The University of Auckland Library

New Zealand’s stock of unreinforced masonry (URM) bearing wall buildings was principally constructed between 1880 and 1935, using fired clay bricks and lime or cement mortar. These buildings are particularly vulnerable to horizontal loadings such as those induced by seismic accelerations, due to a lack of tensile force-resisting elements in their construction. The poor seismic performance of URM buildings was recently demonstrated in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, where a large number of URM buildings suffered irreparable damage and resulted in a significant number of fatalities and casualties. One of the predominant failure modes that occurs in URM buildings is diagonal shear cracking of masonry piers. This diagonal cracking is caused by earthquake loading orientated parallel to the wall surface and typically generates an “X” shaped crack pattern due to the reversed cyclic nature of earthquake accelerations. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) is a class of fiber reinforced cement composite that exhibits a strain-hardening characteristic when loaded in tension. The tensile characteristics of ECC make it an ideal material for seismic strengthening of clay brick unreinforced masonry walls. Testing was conducted on 25 clay brick URM wallettes to investigate the increase in shear strength for a range of ECC thicknesses applied to the masonry wallettes as externally bonded shotcrete reinforcement. The results indicated that there is a diminishing return between thickness of the applied ECC overlay and the shear strength increase obtained. It was also shown that, the effectiveness of the externally bonded reinforcement remained constant for one and two leaf wallettes, but decreased rapidly for wall thicknesses greater than two leafs. The average pseudo-ductility of the strengthened wallettes was equal to 220% of that of the as-built wallettes, demonstrating that ECC shotcrete is effective at enhancing both the in-plane strength and the pseudo-ductility of URM wallettes. AM - Accepted Manuscript

Images, UC QuakeStudies

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.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

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.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the earthquake damage to a group of shops on Westminster Street in St Albans. Bricks and other rubble from the buildings have been piled on the footpath. Wire fencing, road cones and police tape have been placed around the buildings as a cordon.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Iconic bar on the corner of Manchester and Gloucester Streets. Large sections of the outer walls have collapsed, the bricks and masonry spilling onto the footpath below, crushing several cars. USAR codes have been spray-painted near the door and a red sticker has been taped above. The red sticker indicates that the building is unsafe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team climbing a ladder up the back of a house on Gloucester Street. The ladder has been placed against the house so that the ERT members can enter the building through the open window. To the right a section of the house next door has collapsed and the bricks have spilled onto the shed below.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph looking south down Manchester Street taken shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. A crowd of people have gathered on the road. A brick building to the right has partially collapsed, rubble spilling onto the street.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a earthquake damaged building on Tuam Street taken shortly after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Bricks from the top of the façade have crumbled, falling into the street below and crushing some parked cars.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A house on Canterbury Street in Lyttelton with a damaged outer wall. The bricks have fallen away to expose the insulation. Cracks can be seen running diagonally along the remaining wall. Fencing and tape have been placed around the building to warn people off.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The damaged Ozone Hotel on Marine Parade. Fallen bricks lie on the ground in front of the building, which is surrounded by security fencing. The photographer comments, "A bike ride to New Brighton and the beach 3 weeks after the Feb 22 quake. Roads were still very rough and under reconstruction. Some buildings are still standing. but don't look too healthy".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of bricks and other rubble on the footpath outside a building on Lichfield Street. USAR codes have been spray-painted on one of the windows and the front door. A red sticker has been stuck to a column on the right, indicating that the building is unsafe to enter.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the earthquake-damaged Our City O-Tautahi Building on the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace. Steel bracing has been placed against the building to secure the brick walls. The bracing is supported by large concrete blocks. Wire fences have also been placed around the bottom of the building as a cordon. Scaffolding has been erected around the tower to the right.