University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Structural and geotechnical observations after the April 25, 2015 M7.8 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake and its aftershocks

Fahnestock, Larry A.; Hashash, Youssef M.A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95138

Description

Title
Structural and geotechnical observations after the April 25, 2015 M7.8 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake and its aftershocks
Author(s)
  • Fahnestock, Larry A.
  • Hashash, Youssef M.A.
Issue Date
2016-12
Keyword(s)
  • Post-earthquake reconnaissance
  • Slope stability
  • Liquefaction
  • Structural response
  • Reinforced concrete frames
  • Masonry infill
  • Seismic collapse
  • Non-structural damage
Geographic Coverage
Gorkha, Nepal
Abstract
The April 25, 2015 Gorkha (Nepal) Earthquake (M7.8) and its related aftershocks had a devastating impact on Nepal. The earthquake sequence resulted in nearly 9,000 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and left hundreds of thousands of inhabitants homeless. With economic losses estimated at several billion US dollars, the financial impact to Nepal is severe and the rebuilding phase will likely span many years. To investigate the effects of this event, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) sponsored a team to visit Nepal, funded by a CEE Rapid Response Grant. From May 22-28, 2015, Youssef Hashash visited Nepal, in collaboration with a Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association team, and collected data primarily related to geotechnical response. From June 7-13, 2015, Larry Fahnestock visited Nepal and collected data related to structural response of buildings, with focus on reinforced concrete frame structures. This report briefly summarizes geotechnical aspects of the events, which are documented more extensively in a GEER Association report, and thoroughly summarizes structural observations.
Publisher
Newmark Structural Engineering Laboratory. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Series/Report Name or Number
Newmark Structural Engineering Laboratory Report Series 046
ISSN
1940-9826
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95138
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
CEE Rapid Response Grant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Copyright and License Information
Copyright held by the authors. All rights reserved.

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Newmark Structural Laboratory Report Series (NSEL Report Series ISSN 1940-9826) PRIMARY
Report series highlights research conducted at the Newmark Structural Engineering Laboratory