Title : DEPARTURES IN THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF POST-EARTHQUAKE STRENGTHENING OF BUILDINGS IN INDIA
Authors : C. V. R. Murty
Publication : 13th – 16th February 2013
Volume :
Pages : 20-Jan
Price : 250
Abstract : Each earthquake that occurred in India over the last two decades has damaged tens of thousands of buildings. In most cases, the approach has been to undertake qualitative repair of these structures without understanding the current overall health of these structures and estimating quantitatively the increment of improvement needed. This practice has grown to such an extent, that today qualitative repair is seen to be synonymous to quantitative strengthening. Alongside, there is an increasing trend of undertaking member retrofit without appreciating overall earthquake safety of the building and efficacy of member retrofits in providing the required safety in the building. This paper highlights common challenges in India on the misuse of (a) QUALITATIVE Repair substituting for QUANTITATIVE Strengthening in India, and (b) MEMBER Retrofit being undertaken without any assessment of the OVERALL safety of the buildings. References will be made to some recent earthquakes that occurred in India over the last two decades. The way forward will be presented towards formally demonstrating and improving efficacy of post-earthquake rehabilitation of buildings in India.