This project proposes to take immediate advantage of a unique opportunity to obtain valuable full-scale test data on the seismic performance of existing multi-story building frames with masonry infill walls in the City of Los Angeles. Four older, existing buildings constructed between 1913 and 1917 are scheduled for demolition in downtown Los Angeles in late December. This group of buildings consists of: one 12-story building, two 4-story buildings, and one 7-story building, all with infill masonry infill walls. These building types are representative of the many hundreds, if not thousands, of similar buildings that exist in seismic regions in the U.S. The P.I. has been given permission by the building owners and local officials to test these buildings before they are demolished by using testing procedures on the building components and subassemblies that will provide invaluable information on their seismic load/deformation characteristics. The City of Los Angeles is involved as a major coordinator in this project and is contributing donated time for participation by one of its officials. As the buildings will be demolished by late December, time is of the essence in obtaining this perishable data. The research plan encompasses a testing program that includes: 1. Out of plane testing of infill walls. 2. In plane testing of infill walls and material properties. 3. Concrete and steel frame construction details. 4. Concrete encased steel frame beam/colum connections. 5. Full scale building harmonic shaker vibration. One major objective of this research is to document the steel rebar steel types/taps, etc., and the types of connections in the steel frames. In addition, material strengths will be measured in order to develop specific numbers for the performance of similar existing building classes and construction types of the same age. Another major objective will be placed on the use of nondestructive testing instruments that is in current application by structural engineers in the Los Angeles region to determine the location of rebars. This project is expected to produce valuable results for the advancement of earthquake engineering research in the investigation of the older, existing building problem.
