In the case of New Zealand earthquakes, including many strong aftershocks (main one occurred in 2011 in Christchurch with a moment magnitude of 6.3), the total fatalities were less than 200 people. This was the most catastrophic earthquake any county has experienced in terms of the number of fatalities relative to its population. However, the consequences were drastically different as there were about 160,000 fatalities, 300,000 wounded and about 75% of Haiti’s GDP lost. The magnitude of the Haiti earthquake was 7.0 (Mercalli intensity scale), and it was actually lower than the 7.1 recorded in New Zealand. One of the most extreme examples of the difference in building seismic resilience are the 2010 Haiti and the 2010 New Zealand earthquakes. If the structures are not resistant, the drop is large, and the recovery is very long. If the structures are seismically resistant, the drop is small and recovery is quick. The moment the earthquake hits, there is a sudden drop in the quality of the infrastructure. The key component of seismic resilience, by far, is prevention. In the context of seismic events, resilience is the capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of the earthquakes. The best way to achieve this is to implement modern seismic codes in the design and construction, which is associated with the review of the design and quality control of construction.Ī general definition of the word ‘resilience’ is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. The seismic resilience of masonry buildings is the capacity of the structure to resist and maintain a certain level of functionality after the seismic event. In the case of most building materials, including masonry, the best way to limit negative effects of earthquakes on masonry structures is to improve their seismic resilience. It is impossible to prevent earthquakes, but what we can do is mitigate their consequences. Significant damage to the building can occur after just seconds of shaking. Earthquakes are the most destructive natural phenomena that influence our built environment. In addition, there is a global economic loss well above hundreds of billion US dollars per year. About half of that number is attributed to geophysical events, mostly earthquakes and tsunamis. Words and Photos: Richard Rydel, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, Executive Director of the Masonry Institute of America in Torrance, CAĪccording to recent global data, roughly 62,000 people die every year due to natural disasters.
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