Seismic performance of non-structural components and contents in buildings: an overview of NZ research

Dhakal R. P., Pourali A., Tasligedik A. S., Yeow T., Baird A., MacRae G., ...More

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING VIBRATION, vol.15, no.1, pp.1-17, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11803-016-0301-9
  • Journal Name: EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING VIBRATION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-17
  • Keywords: non-structural elements, building contents, drywall partition, cladding, suspended ceilings, seismic performance assessment, fragility analysis, experimental evaluation, loss estimation, FRAGILITY, DAMAGE
  • Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus Affiliated: No

Abstract

This paper summarizes the research on non-structural elements and building contents being conducted at University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Since the 2010-2011 series of Canterbury earthquakes, in which damage to non-structural components and contents contributed heavily to downtime and overall financial loss, attention to seismic performance and design of non-structural components and contents in buildings has increased exponentially in NZ. This has resulted in an increased allocation of resources to research leading to development of more resilient non-structural systems in buildings that would incur substantially less damage and cause little downtime during earthquakes. In the last few years, NZ researchers have made important developments in understanding and improving the seismic performance of secondary building elements such as partitions, facades, ceilings and contents.