Learning from Earthquakes - Earthquake Engineering for Structural Design - page 88

Figure 3.14 Undamaged steel structure during the Kobe earthquake
(courtesy of Fischinger et al, 1998)
The conformation of non-structural elements refers to the lessons to improve
the behavior of partitions, equipments, etc.
- Modern buildings are relatively flexible and must be designed to limit the
damage in non-structural elements.
- Recent moderate earthquakes emphasize the potential problem when
property losses, resulting from damage of architectural and equipment
systems may greatly exceed losses due to structural damage. The Loma
Prieta and Kobe earthquakes are examples of these non-structural losses.
- Main cause of partition damage is due to cracking, resulting from the
distortions or drift in the primary structural framing system. The control of
sway can avoid this kind of damage.
- Damage to suspended ceiling systems in public event halls, sports arena,
swimming pools or exhibition centers is reported especially after strong
earthquakes (Kawaguchi, 2006).
- Building contents could be severely damaged even during moderate
earthquakes, if equipments are not adequately anchored to prevent falling,
sliding or overturning (Fig. 3.15).