Should Fast Track be Derailed?
Engineers, architects and owners believe that fast track construction is a great idea when it works, but serious problems can arise. Some engineers feel that the owner reaps all the benefits...
Overview of Factors Involved in the Mexico Earthquakes
The Mexico earthquakes provided many opportunities for learning. New knowledge has been obtained and continuing research will provide additional knowledge. The earthquakes have also demonstrated...
Damage Statistics of the September 19, 1985 Earthquake
Grupo ICA has participated in all stages of the actions and analysis of the effects of this quake aimed at taking advantage of this disastrous experience and has prepared a complete study...
Analyses of Foundation Failures
During the earthquake of September 19th, 1985, many buildings tilted and underwent settlements, sometimes of very large magnitudes. This paper describes and analyzes these settlements....
Soil-Structure Interaction in Mexico City During the 1985 Earthquakes
The effects of the flexibility of the soil and the foundation on the seismic response of structures, by opposition to clear foundation failures, cannot be easily identified from a simple...
Seismic Design Criteria for Foundations on Control Piles
Control piles have been widely used in Mexico City for underpinning buildings with excessive settlements caused by the consolidation of the soft clay deposits, and as a foundation solution...
Performance Characteristics of Structures, 1985 Mexico City Earthquake
The 1985 Mexico City earthquake caused major damage to buildings, but not other structures, in the center of Mexico City, located approximately 400 km. from the epicenter. Due to soil...
Implications of Structural Characteristics on Failure
Performance of buildings with two common structural types, many of which suffered heavy structural damage or collapse, are analyzed. Conclusions are drawn that no structural type is inadequate,...
Observations on Structural Pounding
In over 40% of the collapsed or severely damaged buildings in Mexico City, pounding of adjacent buildings occurred, and in at least 15% was the primary cause of collapse. The main objectives...
R/C Frame Drift for 1985 Mexico Earthquake
This paper contains the results of a parametric study of the displacement response of multi-story reinforced concrete frames. Nonlinear lateral displacement responses were calculated for...
Evaluation of Performance of Concrete Buildings Damaged by the September 19, 1985 Mexico Earthquake
As a part of a general evaluation of the structural behavior of buildings during the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, a detailed study of 8 damaged concrete buildings has been performed....
Performance of Steel Structures
A description of the various types of steel structures built in Mexico City is made, including comparisons of the older types of steel construction with more modern buildings. Performance...
Summary of the Effects of the 1985 Mexico Earthquake to Power and Industrial Facilities
A major industrial area and two power plants are near the epicenter of the Magnitude 8. 1 Mexico Earthquake of September 19, 1985. All investigated facilities are modern, generally well...
Seismic Rehabilitation: Why, When and How
Common methods of seismic rehabilitation are: repair of cracks, reconstruction of structural elements, addition of stiffening elements, and addition of dampers. A major consideration is...
Repairing and Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Buildings Damaged in the 1985 Mexico City Earthquake
This paper describes briefly the criteria and techniques used for the repairing and strengthening of reinforced concrete buildings damaged in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquakes. It...
Thoughts on a Different Approach to Seismic Design Codes
The aim of this paper is to show that some of the principles on which conventional structural design is based are not directly applicable to seismic design. Seismic design, and the corresponding...
Bridge Design By 1-2-3
MULTBEAM, a Lotus 1-2-3 template, can be used to analyze simple-span, multigirder steel highway bridge superstructures. Since it was developed for in house use by Sverdrup Corp., this...
Crossing A Freeway
The Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle is being constructed on air rights spanning Interstate-5, adjacent to the seven acre Freeway Park that also spans the highway....
The Problem with Public Works
This article discusses the reasons that public projects take longer to complete than private projects do. Unencumbered by the laws, regulations and political conflicts that slow public...
The Road to Drained Pavements
In California, a fast-draining base course within the pavement structure is now the preferred design. For the first time, the 1987 edition of the California Highway Design Manual recommends...
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