Effect of Construction Deficiencies on Seismic Performance of Hospitals during the 2017 Sarpol-e Zahab Earthquake

Abstract

In this study, the construction deficiencies affecting performance of hospitals during the 2017 Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake in Iran were studied through a field survey and numerical assessment. The inadequate bracing of infill walls, façades, and false ceilings, as well as the improper infill wall materials were the nonstructural deficiencies identified through the initial field survey. Improper spacing and anchoring of the reinforcement, unanticipated frame-infill interaction, and low concrete strength were also identified as the major drawbacks of structural members. In the numerical assessment, the results of the concrete coring tests were utilized to establish an as-built nonlinear model whose response was compared with the as-designed model for evaluation purposes. For this purpose, the models were initially pushed to a target roof drift and were then subjected to nonlinear response history analyses under various levels of the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake. The ductility demands undergone by some members of the deficient as-built model were shown to surpass the counterpart values of the stronger as-designed model, while a nearly 17% reduction was observed in the maximum base shear due to the construction deficiencies.