- Fact: Unusual Buildings Are Likely To Be More Vulnerable In An Earthquake - FACT: Unnecessary horizontal and vertical changes in symmetry, mass, and stiffness will increase a building’s vulnerability to strong ground shaking. - FACT: Regularity in a building’s elevation reduces its vulnerability to strong ground shaking Presentation courtesy of Dr. Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction

1. SKY CITY (2,749 FEET--NOT YET
FINISHED) : CHANGSHA, CHINA

2. UNUSUAL BUILDINGS AND
VULNERABILITY IN
EARTHQUAKES

3. BACKGROUND

4. CAUSES
OF
DAMAGE
INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO
HORIZONTAL GROUND SHAKING
SOIL AMPLIFICATION
PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT
(SURFACE FAULTING & GROUND
FAILURE)
IRREGULARITIES IN ELEVATION
EARTHQUAKES AND PLAN
CASE HISTORIES TSUNAMI WAVE RUNUP
LACK OF DETAILING AND POOR
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
LACK OF ATTENTION TO
NON-STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

5. BUILDING ELEVATIONS
• FACT: Unnecessary
horizontal and vertical
changes in symmetry, mass,
and stiffness will increase a
building’s vulnerability to
strong ground shaking.

6. FACT: UNUSUAL BUILDINGS
ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE
VULNERABLE IN AN
EARTHQUAKE

7. A CHURCH: REYKJAVEK,
ICELAND

8. ATLANTIS HOTEL: DUBAI,
UAE

9. EMP MUSEUM: SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON (USA)

10. A LIBRARY: KANSAS CITY,
MISSOURI (USA)

11. A HOTEL: PYONGYANG,
NORTH KOREA

12. “THE GHERKIN,” AN OFFICE
BUILDING: LONDON

13. REGULARITY IN A BUILDING’S
ELEVATION REDUCES ITS
VULNERABILITY TO STRONG
GROUND SHAKING

14. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] None, if attention
given to foundation
1-2 and non-structural
elements. Rocking
may crack foundation
and structure. X-
Box Cracks around
windows.

15. DAMAGED HOUSE:CHINA

16. ASYMMETRY AND LATERAL
CHANGES: CHINA

17. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] None, if attention
given to foundation
1 and non structural
elements. Rocking
may crack foundation.
Pyramid

18. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Top heavy,
asymmetrical structure
4-6 may fail at foundation
due to rocking and
overturning.
Inverted Pyramid

19. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Asymmetry and
horizontal transition in
5-6 mass, stiffness and
damping may cause
failure where lower
and upper structures
“L”- Shaped join.
Building

20. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Vertical transition and
asymmetry may cause
3-5 failure where lower
part is attached to
tower.
Inverted “T”

21. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Vertical transition in
mass, stiffness, and
2-3 damping may cause
failure at foundation
and transition points
at each floor.
Multiple Setbacks

22. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Top heavy
asymmetrical structure
4-5 may fail at transition
point and foundation
due to rocking and
overturning.
Overhang

23. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Horizontal and vertical
transitions in mass
6-7 and stiffness may
cause failure on soft
side of first floor;
rocking and
Partial “Soft” Story overturning.

24. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Vertical transitions in
mass and stiffness
8 - 10 may cause failure on
transition points
between first and
second floors.
“Soft” First Floor

25. THE TYPICAL SOFT-STOREY
BUILDING IN TURKEY

26. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Horizontal and vertical
transitions in mass
9 - 10 and stiffness may
cause failure at
transition points and
possible overturning.
Combination of
“Soft” Story and
Overhang

27. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Horizontal transition in
stiffness of soft story
10 columns may cause
failure of columns at
foundation and/or
contact points with
structure.
Building on
Sloping Ground

28. SOFT STORY BUILDING ON
SLOPING GROUND: CHINA
TRIGGERED LANDSLIDES

29. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Horizontal and vertical
transition in stiffness
8-9 and cause failure of
individual members.
Theaters and
Assembly Halls

30. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
BUILDING LOCATIONS OF
ELEVATION POTENTIAL FAILURE
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Horizontal and vertical
transition in mass and
9 - 10 stiffness may cause
failure columns.
Sports Stadiums

31. SIMPLICITY IN A BUILDING’S
FLOOR PLAN REDUCES ITS
VULNERABILITY TO STRONG
GROUND SHAKING

32. BUILDING FLOOR PLANS
• FACT: CHANGING FLOOR PLANS
FROM SIMPLE TO COMPLEX
AND FROM SYMMETRICAL TO
ASYMMETRICAL WILL
INCREASE A BUILDING’S
VULNERABILITY TO GROUND
SHAKING.

33. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] None, if symmetrical
layout maintained.
1
Box

34. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Differences in length
and width will cause
2-4 differences in
strength, differential
movement, and
possible overturning.
Rectangle

35. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Asymmetry will cause
torsion and enhance
2-4 damage at corners.
Street Corner

36. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Asymmetry will
enhance damage at
5 - 10 corner regions.
“U” - Shape

37. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Open space in center
reduces resistance
4 and enhance damage
at corner regions.
Courtyard in Corner

38. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Asymmetry will cause
torsion and enhance
8 damage at intersection
and corners.
“L” - Shape

39. TORSION: CHINA

40. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Directional variation in
stiffness will enhance
5-7 damage at intersecting
corner.
“H” - Shape

41. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Asymmetry and
directional variation in
8 - 10 stiffness will enhance
torsion and damage at
intersecting.
Complex Floor Plan

42. ANALYSIS OF VULNERABILITY
POTENTIAL
FLOOR PLAN
PROBLEMS
RELATIVE
VULERABILITY
[1 (Best) to 10 (Worst)] Asymmetry and
irregularities will cause
5- 9 torsion and enhance
damage along
boundaries and at
corners.
Curved Plan