Damage to industrial structures due to the 27 February 2010 Chile earthquake

Abstract

This paper provides a summary of the damage to industrial facilities in the Mw 8.8 Chile earthquake of 27 February 2010. The types of damage observed include failure of elevated tanks, collapse and cracking of concrete silos, buckling of steel silos, collapse of conveyor systems, failure of steel bins, and failure of anchor rods. Damage to industrial buildings included buckling of bracing members, failure of brace connections, shear failures of reinforced concrete columns, and shear failures of heavily loaded steel girders. Aspects of the current Chilean design code for industrial structures are reviewed and discussed. Recommendations are proposed for the development of Canadian seismic design provisions for industrial structures.