		2009 NZSEE Conference
	Abstracts

Keynote Address Session 1 Session 2 Session 3A Session 3B Session 4A Session 4B Session 5A Session 5B Session 6 Session 7 Poster Session

Analytical Model for Shear Strengthening of RC Beam-Column Joints Using Composite Materials

Umut Akguzel and Stefano Pampanin

An analytical model, based on principal tensile stresses vs. joint shear deformation rules, for the evaluation of reinforced concrete (RC) joints strengthened with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials is presented. For this purpose, existing model available in literature is simplified and step-by-step iterative procedure is given which separately evaluates the shear contributions provided by the composite material and by the confined concrete. To achieve the target performance of the retrofit strategy, step-by-step design procedure is adopted to generate a M-N interaction diagram, or performance domains, for the beam-column-joint subassembly. Finally, results of parametric analyses are shown to highlight the effect of different retrofitting schemes and axial load levels on the effectiveness of strengthening along with the brief discussion on deformation based retrofit design. The procedure is shown to yield simple and efficient design calculations and can easily be implemented by practicing engineers.

Paper P53: [Read]

Seismic Response Reduction of a 12-storey Reinforced Concrete Structure Using Semi-active Resettable Devices

Roberto Franco-Anaya, Athol Carr and Geoffrey Chase

Recent analytical and experimental research has demonstrated the potential of semi-active resettable devices for controlling the response of structures subjected to earthquake excitation. Resettable devices manipulate the stiffness characteristics of the structure and are capable of producing large resisting forces. The devices also offer great reliability due to their reliance on standard hydraulic or pneumatic concepts and employ relatively simple mechanisms and control logic. This paper presents an investigation on the use of semi-active resettable devices to reduce the seismic response of multi-storey buildings. Analytical studies are conducted to investigate the performance of a twelve-storey reinforced concrete structure subjected to earthquake ground motion and controlled by resettable devices. Computer simulations are carried out to determine the optimal utilisation of the devices and to evaluate the performance of different control laws used to control the operation of the resettable devices. The effect of the location, number and arrangement of the devices on the seismic response of the structure is discussed.

Paper P54: [Read], Poster P54: [View]

Quasi-elastic Stiffness of Auckland Clays

A. Ibrahim, Rolando Orense, Michael Pender and Naotaka Kikkawa

The small-strain quasi-elastic stiffness is one of the parameters which describe the soil behaviour under working loads, including small and medium earthquake motions. Toward this end, many researches have been attempted to accurately measure the small strain behaviour of soils. This paper presents the laboratory test results on the stress-strain curves for specimens of Auckland clay for axial strains ranging from less than 0.001% up to 1.0% using linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs). Three submersible miniature LVDTs mounted on yokes, which clamp onto the 75mm diameter soil specimen at three points, each 120o from the other, were used to measure axial strains over a gauge length of 100mm. These LVDTs can consistently resolve displacements of less than 0.1 microns and, together with the 0.4N resolution internal load cell (i.e. axial stress of less than 0.1kPa on a 75mm diameter specimen) and a 16 bit A/D converter, gave accurate measurements of axial stresses and strains. Along with a description of the mechanical system, the recent modifications to the conventional triaxial equipment and to the testing methodology, which were introduced to further improve the test results, were also discussed. Finally, the performance of the device and the revised experimental set-up was illustrated by conducting tests on a rubber specimen and on three different types of soils under similar isotropic confining pressures. Hyperbolic curve fitting was applied to the relationship between the deviator stress and axial strain in order to estimate the small-strain stiffness of the soil. Test results confirmed that the measuring system can provide a detailed characterisation of the small-strain behaviour of soils under triaxial compression.

Paper P55: [Read], Poster P55: [View]

Building Community Resilience Through Community-based Education Programmes

David Johnston, Kirsten Finnis, Julia Becker, Graham Leonard, Wendy Saunders, Kim Wright, Douglas Paton and Kevin Ronan

Contemporary research has highlighted that improved preparedness is likely to accrue from (i) enhancing beliefs in the feasibility of mitigating hazard; and (ii) enhancing beliefs in personal competency to implement these activities. Changing these factors requires a mix of public education, social policy, training, and empowerment strategies. The design of hazard education programmes should be integrated with community development initiatives and will be more effective than stand alone, one off programmes. School education programmes need to be one of the centrepieces of a sustained, community-based effort.

Paper P56: [Read]

Investigation of Traffic-induced Floor vibrations in a Building

Bo Li, Tuo Zou and Piotr Omenzetter

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of issues associated with traffic-induced building vibrations, concerning discomfort to occupants or damage to buildings and vibration-sensitive equipment. Due to rapid development of metropolitan cities, the vibrations and noise caused by traffic moving on the adjacent roads or highways will create more serviceability problems in modern lightweight structures. This project focused on this issue and investigated a building on the University of Auckland City Campus. A series of in-situ tests were carried out with several accelerometers and a synchronized web camera to collect the experimental data of the floor and ground responses to explore the correlation between the floor vibrations and the passing of heavy vehicles. System identification analysis was performed to estimate the modal parameters of the floor system, i.e. natural frequencies and damping ratios. Transfer functions, which describe the relations between the inputs and outputs of a system, were formulated to establish a frequency-domain model between traffic excitation and floor response. An FEM model of the structure was built and calibrated for an optimal match between analytical and experimental results. Sensitivity analysis and model updating process were performed to improve the accuracy of the model by adjusting uncertain structural parameters. Vibration levels were compared to standard guidelines and found acceptable. The study helped to better understand the problem of traffic-induced vibrations in lightweight floors and buildings.

Paper P57: [Read], Poster P57: [View]

Monte Carlo Simulation of SSI Effects Using Simple Rheological Soil Model

M. Moghaddasi K., Misko Cubrinovski, Stefano Pampanin, Athol Carr and Geoffrey Chase

Most soil-structure interaction (SSI) studies use fairly simple rheological soil models that assume the soil-foundation system remains elastic. The goal of this study is to use these simplified models and systems to analyse almost exhaustively the impact of using these models on designing structures to account for SSI. To achieve this objective, an equivalent linear soil-structure model was examined in a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation. This paper presents a study of 2.04 million simulations, over superstructures with periods ranging between 0.1 and 3.5 seconds, and over reasonable variations of soil, structure, and earthquake parameters. The overall finding shows in any case, there is over 70% of probability in which structural response is reduced due to SSI effects.

Paper P58: [Read]

Full-Scale Experimental Validation of a DAD Post-Tensioned Concrete Connection Utilising Embedded High Force-to-Volume Lead Dampers

G.W. Rodgers, John Mander and Geoffrey Chase

An experimental validation of a jointed precast prestressed concrete connection, fitted with embedded high force-to-volume damping devices is presented. A full-scale beam-column subassembly based on Damage Avoidance Design (DAD) principles is experimentally examined to assess its seismic performance and damage avoidance capability. The test specimen is a 3D exterior connection of a jointed precast concrete frame structure, with prestress provided by unbounded post-tensioned high-alloy high-strength thread-bars.. Beam and column junctions in the joint region are armoured to avoid damage by providing steel plates at the interface surfaces. Supplemental energy dissipation is provided by high force-to-volume (HF2V) dampers internally cast into the beams adjacent to the beam-column interface. Multiple displacement histories are applied to investigate the contribution of the dampers to overall joint hysteresis and stability of the joint hysteretic performance. Tests are performed with and without the dampers connected, at a range of different post-tensioning forces, to delineate the effects of the different structural elements. Under uni-directional loading, the HF2V dampers provide significantly more damping than the post-tensioned DAD system alone. No strength degradation is observed over numerous tests and results are seen to be displacement path independent, whereby large initial cycles did not affect strength or stiffness on subsequent smaller cycles. The DAD concept is considered to be further validated based on the results of these tests.

Paper P59: [Read]

Earthquake Protection by Tire-Soil Mixtures: Numerical Study

X Xu, S.H. Lo, Hing-Ho Tsang and M.N. Sheikh

Scrap tire stockpile has been a significant disposal problem. It has been a hot topic among engineering community to find new beneficial ways to recycle and reuse the huge stockpile. This paper proposes a new method of utilizing scrap tires for earthquake protection. The method involves mixing scrap tires with soil sediments and placing the mixtures around civil engineering structures, for absorbing vibration energy and exerting a function similar to that of a cushion. The validity of the method has been demonstrated by numerical simulations in order to show its effectiveness and robustness.

A sample scenario of using this method for protecting a residential building of typical dimension demonstrates that around 4 million passenger tires can be utilized. Hence, the proposed method provides a promising way to reduce the huge stockpile. Moreover, the low-cost of this proposed earthquake protection scheme can greatly benefit the developing countries where resources and technology are not adequate for earthquake mitigation with well-developed, yet expensive, techniques.

Paper P60: [Read]

Qualitative Analysis of Seismic Damage to Colombian Reinforced Concrete Framed Buildings

José Chanchí, Mario Villada, Johnatan Barrios and Maria Bedoya

This paper describes typical structural damage to the components (columns and joints) of reinforced concrete framed buildings affected by the three most important Colombian earthquakes during the last 30 years. A qualitative analysis on the seismic performance of frame’s component is used to explain the seismic design criteria according to the construction used, which followed the Colombian code regulations over the referenced period. From this information a general overview of the Colombian Code Regulations development is used to describe the scope of the most current basic design principles for columns and joints in reinforced concrete framed buildings. Finally using the performance and design criteria of the components, the importance of qualitative analysis is emphasized for seismic design

Poster P61: [View]

In-Situ Out-of-Plane Testing of Unreinforced Masonry Partition Walls

Dmytro Dizhur, Hossein Derakhshan, John Cuthbert and Jason Ingham

Most of the research considering out-of-plane seismic assessment of URM walls has been conducted using laboratory-based studies with artificial boundary conditions. Thus, in-situ testing is required to provide data with which to validate the accuracy of laboratory-based studies of out-of-plane walls. An in-situ testing program was developed by performing airbag tests on 2 non-load bearing partition walls of the William Weir Wing of Weir House in the city of Wellington, New Zealand. The 3 storey building was constructed in 1932 and is comprised of reinforced concrete perimeter walls with cement plaster and terracotta masonry interior facing with unreinforced terracotta masonry partition walls. One wall was tested in the as-built condition and the second wall was retrofitted with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) using the Near Surface Mounting (NSM) technique. The pseudo-static tests were performed on the surface of the 1-leaf clay brick terracotta masonry walls by applying uniform pressure. The test walls, having dimensions of 3600 mm by 4100 mm, were supported at four sides and acted in a two-way bending mode. The test procedure and measured strength and stiffness properties of the two walls are presented.

Why Are Building Owners of EPBs Reluctant to Retrofit?

Temitope Egbelakin, Suzanne Wilkinson and Jason Ingham

Adopting high seismic retrofit standard during rehabilitation of earthquake prone building (EPBs) has been a dilemma to owners of EPBs in New Zealand since the enactment of the Building Act (2004). The Act only seeks to reduce the level of earthquake risk to the communities over time and only targets most vulnerable EPBs, thereby recommending minimum retrofit standard. However, this standard has been found to be inadequate in eliminating the danger associated with EPBs (NZSEE, 2005). Building owners has been found to adopt lower seismic standard as well as lower cost options regardless of the recommendations from consulting engineers (Hopkins,2005). They have also been noted to either pull down or adopt demolition by neglect attitude. Continuous neglect of these EPBs poses major risks to the society as a whole, as well as the loss of valuable historic buildings. Building owners make many decisions about building risks posed by hazards such as fire, earthquake and flood, and the decision about improved seismic performance is just one of them. Seismic performance is usually evaluated along with decisions about maintenance, upgrading, future investment and risks assessment. Examination of many different situations and interviews with a range of building owners made it clear that no two buildings go through precisely the same process. The context and the associated environments in which each decision is made is a major determinant and lots of trade-offs are considered during the decision-making process. It is thus necessary to understand how building owners make decisions about retrofit level they adopt and how they can be motivated to adopt higher seismic standards. This study identified the various factors influencing the seismic retrofit decision-making processes and the associated environments to understand why building owners are reluctant to retrofit. Through 28 semi-structured interviews, factors identified were categorized into three major factors namely economic and social factors and regulatory requirements, while the associated environments are; Investment, Built, Regulatory and External environments. The importance, influence and implications of these factors were evaluated and analysed.

Seismic Response of Full-Scale Prestressed Timber Beam-Column Joint

Asif Iqbal, Stefano Pampanin and Andrew Buchanan

Structural members made of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) in combination with unbonded post-tensioning have recently been proposed for multi-storey timber buildings. It has been shown that prefabricated and prestressed timber members can be designed to have excellent seismic resistance, with enhanced recentering and energy dissipation characteristics. The post-tensioning provides recentering capacity while energy is dissipated through yielding of mild steel dissipating devices.

This poster summarizes the results of an experimental investigation into the seismic response of full-scale LVL beam-column joints, performed as part of a larger research programme on timber structural subassemblies at the University of Canterbury. The joint is designed as part of a building frame for a six-storey building located in a high-seismic zone; hence the beams and column are much larger than anything tested previously. The timber beams and column, and the recentering/dissipating elements, are optimized to produce the intended behaviour. Commercially available prestressing arrangements are used to verify their applicability in a practical timber structure, using a 12-strand tendon and an initial prestressing force over 1000kN. The mild steel energy dissipaters are attached externally so that they can be installed and replaced easily. The results of initial experiments with one external beam-column joint are presented here. The experimental program is continuing with testing of an internal joint. The results of this first full-scale test will help to develop further understanding, and to solve practical issues with connection details for implementation in multi-storey timber buildings.

Seismic Performance of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil

Perry Jackson, Elisabeth Bowman and Misko Cubrinovski

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) walls enable shortened construction times, a higher deformation tolerance, greater environmental and aesthetic benefits and excellent seismic performance, compared with conventional retaining walls. GRS behaviour under seismic loadings however is not fully understood and this has resulted in engineering design inconsistencies in New Zealand and the rest of the world.

The length of geosynthetic reinforcement to wall height ratio (L/H) and wall inclination influence considerably the seismic performance and cost of GRS structures. However research into the effects of these parameters on seismic deformation behaviour is limited, and is the subject of this research. Seven scaled shake-table tests involving systematic variation of the reinforcement length and wall inclination for simulated earthquake loading are being conducted at the University of Canterbury. The testing facility utilizes accelerometers, displacement transducers and high-speed camera recorded images for subsequent Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) to analyse the strain and displacement fields within the reinforced zone and the reinforcement-soil interaction.

Retrofit Cost Modelling of Existing Structures in New Zealand

R Jafarzadeh and Suzanne Wilkinson

The seismic rehabilitation suitability of any building is mainly affected by cost and benefit comparisons. Feedback from past and current social studies indicated that the retrofit cost is a leading factor being taken into account by decision makers. Retrofit cost is complex in nature and involving incorporating and analysis of various factors. The research under the “Seismic Retrofit Program for NZ” aims to develop a retrofit cost model for existing structures. The research examines the relevant costs incurred by each major step in the whole rehabilitation process based on New Zealand’s unique situation including amongst other things, earthquake-prone building policy, seismicity, seismic loading and assessment, and rehabilitation construction work.

Research aims to collect information of the past rehabilitation projects from all possible respondents (building owners, engineering consultants, construction contractors, city councils, etc.) and, hence, form a rehabilitation cost database. The cost database is the backbone of the project in that at the end the reliability of final research results depends on the accuracy and completeness of information provided by each respondent.

A web site being designed to acquire necessary data for retrofit cost modelling and its different sections are introduced in detail. The web site address is www.retrofitcost.net.

Development and Validation of a Non-Tearing Floor Precast Concrete Structural System for Seismic Regions

Ben Leslie, Des Bull and Stefano Pampanin

The interaction between reinforced concrete moment frames and precast flooring units during an earthquake is a well established topic of concern for structural engineers. Beam elongation and displacement incompatibility between frame and floor cause high levels of damage to the diaphragm and beams, and can ultimately lead to collapse of the composite floor (precast units and cast-in-place topping) if particular detailing to mitigate these effects is not applied. Recently focus of research has shifted from detailing for significant localised damage to beams and adjacent floors to that of minimising damage to the structural system of beam and floor by creating a “Non-Tearing [of the floor]” beam-to-column connection. This is where the relative rotation of the beam to the column, under lateral displacement of the building, does not result in large plasticity of the beam and avoids the detrimental damage (tearing) of the floor-to-column junction.

This poster contributes to an on-going research programme of a precast non-tearing floor and frame system for seismic regions (supported by FRST). The experimental and analytical results of a 2/3 scale frame incorporating three beam-to-column connection details are presented and design issues and recommendations particular to these options are discussed. The research aims to develop commercially viable non-tearing floor connection details and design guidelines for introduction into construction practice, so that we may design and build seismically safer concrete structures.

Overstrength Factors for Seismic Design of Steel Structures

Samuel Leslie, Gregory MacRae and Mark Staiger

Over the past 20 years, there have been considerable changes in the properties of structural steel due to a greater source diversity and an improvement in technology. The steel industry is concerned that such changes may affect the accuracy of the overstrength factors currently used in design.

This project describes the development of member overstrength factors for earthquake design. The methodology of currently calculating the overstrength factor in NZS3404 seems to be questionable. In this research, a more accurate model was developed to analyse the overstrength factors to be used in design relating to a specified probability of ‘failure’. Earthquake design of ductile members, moment redistribution design and connection designs were considered when developing overstrength factor relationships. A programme was developed on Matlab using Monte Carlo simulations to analyse beam/column moment resisting frames and axially braced frames for each design scenario.

Based on a 10% probability of ‘failure’, it was illustrated that the overstrength factors currently suggested in NZS3404 are:

• Slightly over conservative when applying OSF for flexural earthquake design

• Under conservative when applying OSF for axially braced earthquake design

• Very conservative when applying OSF for redistribution design

This suggests that the NZS3404 should specify different OSF for different design scenarios rather than adopting the same OSF for beams, columns and braces.

Poster P68: [View]

Effecs of Strain Ageing on New Zealand Reinforcing Steel Bars

Amin Momtahan, Rajesh Dhakal and A Rieder

Modern seismic design codes, which are based on capacity design concepts, allow formation of plastic hinges in specified locations of the structure. This requires reliable estimation of strength of different components so that the desired hierarchy of strength of the structural components can be ensured to guarantee the formation of plastic hinges in the ductile elements (i.e. beams). As strength of longitudinal reinforcing bars governs the strength of reinforced concrete members, strain ageing, which has significant effect on the strength of reinforcing bars, should be given due consideration in capacity design. Strain aging can increase the yield strength of reinforcing steel bars and hence the strength of already formed plastic hinges, thereby likely to force an unfavourable mechanism (such as strong beam weak column) to take place in subsequent earthquakes. In this paper, strain ageing effect of commonly used New Zealand reinforcing steel bars is experimentally investigated. Common New Zealand steel reinforcing bars are tested for different levels of pre-strain and different time intervals up to 50 days, and the results are discussed focussing on strain aging and its possible implications on seismic design provisions. The results indicate that designers need to use a higher flexural strength (in addition to overstrength) for the weaker member in checking the strength hierarchy for capacity design of new reinforced concrete frames. Similarly, in designing retrofit measures to restore a damaged reinforced concrete member engineers need to take into account an increase of yield strength of the reinforcing steel bars employed in the member due to the strain-ageing phenomenon, and the extent of increase depends on the level of damage.

Poster P69: [View]

Seismic Design and Numerical Response of Post-tensioned Timber Frames

Michael Newcombe, Stefano Pampanin and Andrew Buchanan

This poster presents a design procedure and a numerical validation for the seismic performance of multi-storey post-tensioned timber frames.

A displacement-based design seismic design procedure is utilized. Many aspects of the Direct Displacement-Based Design procedure for reinforced concrete can be directly applied for post-tensioned timber frames. Because the elastic deformations of the timber members are more significant than those of similar sized reinforced concrete members, an iterative design procedure is required. Recommendations are also made to account for dynamic higher modes of amplification.

The numerical investigation, used to verify the design procedure, considers the seismic response of post-tensioned timber frame buildings subjected to a suite of far field and near field earthquakes. The modeled frames have lumped rotational springs at the connections. A comparison is made between the response predicted by displacement-based design and the numerical results.

Poster P70: [View]

Seismic Zonation and Default Suite of Ground Motion Records for Time-history Analysis in New Zealand

Claudio Oyarzo-Vera, Ryan Fleming, Graeme McVerry and Jason Ingham

The New Zealand Standard for Structural Design Actions, NZS 1170.5:2004, defines a criterion to select ground motion records for time-history analysis. This criterion is based on the similarity between the seismological signature of the earthquakes used for the analysis and those that are expected to be encountered at a given location. However, as most structural designers are not familiar with the specific details of the probabilistic seismic hazard model used to determine the design spectra, further information is currently required before designers can readily select appropriate earthquake records.

This study integrates the seismologist’s and the engineer’s knowledge, and to develop a method for selecting the best set of records for different locations considering the hazard level for each location and the seismological characteristics of the expected ground motions. For this purpose, New Zealand is divided into several seismological hazard zones based on their seismological signature and the mapping of the hazard factor presented in the standard. Furthermore, suites of records are proposed for each seismic zone, to be used in time-history analysis of buildings in New Zealand in absence of better studies for the selection of appropriate records.

Vertical Acceleration Effects on Buildings

Jaspreet Singh, Gregory MacRae and Bruce Deam

Vertical ground accelerations of more than 1g have been recorded during past earthquakes. As frame elements are often permitted to be designed for high levels of gravity force (e.g. steel columns may be designed for axial force levels of up to 0.8 of the crush load), there is concern that vertical accelerations will induce significant actions which will lead to undesirable or catastrophic behaviour. In structural design practice there is no consensus as to how vertical accelerations should be considered. While most codes do provide specifications, these can often be interpreted different ways. Also, some designers totally ignore the effects of vertical acceleration on structures because there is no rigorous prescription for their treatment. Previous studies on vertical acceleration effects, give contradictory results. Also, these studies have generally been conducted using models with mass distributed along the columns and beams, but the effect of the slab has often been ignored.

This project simple and complex (including mass on the slab) models of structures are analyzed to “design level” vertical acceleration records. The structural periods were in the extreme part of the vertical acceleration spectrum. The member actions (column axial forces, beam shears, beam moments, as well as beam deflections) obtained from time history analyses are then compared to the design gravity load case alone. It was found that median member actions obtained from time history analyses were lower than the design gravity forces at the bottom of the structure while at the top of the structure, the member actions were slightly higher than the design gravity forces. The beam deflections were similar to what would normally be obtained under service gravity load conditions. The difference in 2D model, and 3D model (with slab flexibility), forces was not significant for the models chosen.

Poster P72: [View]

Flexible Floor Diaphragm Seismic Response

Matthew Spooner, Gregory MacRae, Bruce Deam, Vinod Sadashiva and Debra Gardiner

Current design codes require different analysis techniques to be used in a building subject to seismic action depending on whether the floor diaphragm is rigid or flexible. However, no diaphragm is totally rigid, and it is not clear what the likely change in displacements and forces are as a result of different amounts of diaphragm flexibility. In this paper, simple structural models with different deformation types, different vertical lateral force resisting element configurations and different number of storeys are analyzed with a suite of earthquake records to evaluate the effect of diaphragm flexibility. It is shown that:

• Single storey elastic structures tend to have the critical change in response, rather than yielding or multistorey structures

• Forces for longer period structures generally decreased due to diaphragm flexibility. This was explained by the response spectra shape

• Models were developed to predict the response and simple design recommendations to consider diaphragm flexibility are proposed.

Finally a design example then provided.

Poster P73: [View]

Earthquake effects on Waste Water Systems

Mohammad Reza Zare and Suzanne Wilkinson

The Waste Water System has a direct impact in our communities especially in urban areas area and its male function is great concern of any urban area. Earthquakes are has been nominated as one the main disasters in New Zealand and can affect waste water systems in different ways. To illustrate the earthquake impacts on , waste water systems this study should be divided the system intoto its the main parts (such as pipelines, pumping stations and waste treatment plants). Wastewater pipelines in earthquake vulnerable areas are the most vulnerable parts of each wastewater system which deserve particular attention not only for pipe rehabilitation before an earthquake but also for post earthquake reconstruction. Construction of Pipeline and pumping stations in NZ specially in large cities back to 8 to 9 decades ago. SFor instance some upgrading has been done in the mechanical and telecommunication parts of thein pumping stations but still more needs to be done, as most of them are vulnerable to earthquake. Almost all wastewater treatment plants in New Zealand have been upgraded or constructed recently with new earthquake building codes especially in their structures, which reveals wastewater treatment plants are the least vulnerable parts of wastewater systems.

Poster P74: [View]

New Zealand Representation at the 2008 Asia Pacific IDEERS Seismic Design Competition - Undergraduate Division

Tuo Zou, Chris Van Houtte, Emrys McArley, David Fehsenfeld and Quincy Ma

The Asia Pacific IDEERS competition (APEC IDEERS) is an international seismic resistant design competition with the aim of promoting earthquake engineering research to school and university students. The annual competition began in 2001 and is hosted by the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) in Taiwan. The competition involved designing and constructing the most efficient multi-storey model structures using the materials provided to resist artificial earthquakes as simulated on the NCREE shake table.

This poster presents the highlights from the viewpoints of the 2008 undergraduate team from the University of Auckland. The evolution of the final competition design is briefly discussed.

Poster P75: [Poster]

Keynote Address Session 1 Session 2 Session 3A Session 3B Session 4A Session 4B Session 5A Session 5B Session 6 Session 7 Poster Session