Some lessons learned from post‐earthquake damage survey of structures in Bam, Iran earthquake of 2003

Abstract

Purpose -Some lessons learned from post-earthquake damage survey of structures affected by the Bam earthquake of December 26, 2003 in Iran are encapsulated in this paper. The Bam earthquake caused catastrophic structural damage in the region. Design/methodology/approach -A method similar to that of rapid evaluation procedure (REP), recommended by the Applied Technology Council (ATC-20) in the USA, was used for damage survey. Findings -Bam represents a typical ancient city in many countries around the world. Most of the structures in the region are made of adobe, unreinforced masonry, steel, and unreinforced/reinforced concrete. Some of the main types of structural damage, their causes, and potential remedial measures are characterized with an emphasis on the very basic fundamental principles of earthquake-resistant design. Practical implications -The research reported has considerable implications for other seismic-affected regions of the world. Originality/value -A first hand-account of the catastrophic damage caused by this natural disaster and the implications for future design and construction in seismic-affected areas.

The Challenge of Affordable Housing in Disasters: Western Iran Earthquake in 2017

“…The Ministry of Road and Urban Development Planning is obligated to supervise the various stages of design and construction of buildings. 14 In general, based on the results of the studies, the following factors should be considered to prevent such destructions caused by an earthquake in the future: reduction plans with the placement in which the plan will be implemented [15][16][17]…”

Shaking table tests on dome‐roof adobe houses

“…It is noteworthy that because negligible damages were observed in the dome roof of the unretrofitted shaking table specimen and its collapse originated from wall separation, no special attention is paid for retrofitting of this structural part. Observations from past earthquakes on performance of adobe buildings with arched roof by Maheri , Mehrabian and Haldar , Manafpour , Ahmadizadeh and Shakib , Mahdi , Zahrai and Heidarzadeh , reference and the numerical analyses by Mirzaei and Eshghi ensure that these roofs behaved more acceptably in adobe buildings compared with other roof systems, and the main weakness of these buildings is the detachment of the perpendicular walls.…”

Lessons Learned from the Recent Earthquakes in Iran

“…Recent researches in Iran especially after the Bam 2003 earthquake (Mehrabian and Achintya 2005) show that adobe and unreinforced masonry constructions are very susceptible to earthquake shakings and could not be used in seismically active zones. The existing constructions of these kinds must be retrofitted by available technologies.…”