Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Correlations between ground motion and building damage. Engineering intensity scale applied to the San Fernando earthquake of February 1971

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5339491· OSTI ID:5339491

The correlation between ground motion and building damage was investigated for the San Fernando earthquake of 1971. A series of iso-intensity maps was compiled to summarize the ground motion in terms of the Blume Engineering Intensity Scale (EIS). This involved the analysis of ground motion records from 62 stations in the Los Angeles area. Damage information for low-rise buildings was obtained in the form of records of loans granted by the Small Business Administration to repair earthquake damage. High-rise damage evaluations were based on direct inquiry and building inspection. Damage factors (ratio of damage repair cost to building value) were calculated and summarized on contour maps. A statistical study was then undertaken to determine relationships between ground motion and damage factor. Several parameters for ground motion were considered and evaluated by means of correlation coefficients.

Research Organization:
URS/John A. Blume and Associates, Engineers, San Francisco, Calif. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-08-0099
OSTI ID:
5339491
Report Number(s):
JAB-99-111
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Post earthquake recovery in natural gas systems--1971 San Fernando Earthquake
Conference · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982 · Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., Pressure Vessels Piping Div., (Tech. Rep.) PVP; (United States) · OSTI ID:5323533

Statistical analysis of low-rise building damage caused by the San Fernando earthquake
Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EDT 1974 · Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., v. 64, no. 1, pp. 1-23 · OSTI ID:4338051

Response of two identical seven-story structures to the San Fernando earthquake of February 9, 1971
Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1973 · OSTI ID:4409565