This is a post-event investigation project to learn engineering lessons from the Loma Prieta earthquake (October 1989). The objective of this project, conducted in companion between the University of Texas (UT) and the H. J. Degenkolb Associates (HJD) is to study the performance of industrial buildings and their contents during the Loma Prieta earthquake. The primary focus will be on facilities in high- tech industries. The data gathered will be used to examine structural design criteria associated with providing safety and life. The requirements that should be given to maintenance of operations when designing or retrofitting a structure will be defined quantitatively. The investigation will involve three major tasks: (1) A field study of damaged buildings/contents and the work done to restore operations, including cost data by (HJD and UT), (2) Gather details of selected existing structures to determine problem areas and to evaluate the redesigns actually used or those proposed for the structure (HJD and UT) and (3) for selected structures, conduct detailed analyses of the existing and redesigned structures using models based on available test data for strengthened or repaired structural elements (by UT). It is anticipated that the project will make access to data, determine feasibility of retrofitting to standards, result in improved understanding of vulnerability of critical industries, and identify long-term experimental and analytical research needs for operation maintaining and rapid post-event recovery.
