Breakwater Breakthrough�Bold New Breakwaters
A new rubble-mound breakwater design is a departure from the conventional approach detailed in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Manual. The new concept, called the berm...
Computers Board Equipment
Construction equipment is slowly being automated, either with remotely operated radio controls or by on-board computers that control repetitive tasks. Contractors in the United States...
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...
Subsiding Problems with Slurry Walls
Slurry walls for excavation support cost far more time and money than the sheeting wall or the tieback and lagging wall. Criteria to decide where to consider using slurry walls and where...
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...
Geotechnical Notes on the Effects of Mexico's 1985 Earthquakes
The present notes briefly describe the most relevant effects of the September 19 and 20, 1985 earthquakes on shallow and deep foundations used in Mexico City, which is located at about...
Effects of the 1985 Earthquake in Lazaro Cardenas, Mich.
An account is presented of a geotechnical survey made shortly after the major earthquake of September 19, 1985 (magnitude 8. 1) at the industrial port of Lazaro Cardenas in the state of...
Earthquake Response of La Villita Dam
Due to the recent industrial and housing developments at the port of Lazaro Cardenas, located 13 km (8 miles) downstream of La Villita Dam, at the mouth of the Balsas River, the hazard...
Are the Soil Depositions in Mexico City Unique?
The answer clearly is: YES| However, the amplification and soil-structure interaction effects observed in Mexico City are important considerations - even if they may not be so severe -in...
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...
Preliminary Dynamic Analyses of the Ministry of Agriculture Building
The Ministry of Agriculture building on Avenida San Antonio Abad was originally constructed as a 17 story reinforced concrete structure using a waffle slab system with interior reinforced...
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....
Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Framing Systems
On September 19, 1985, Mexico City was hit by what is believed to have been the most damaging earthquake in its recorded history. In this report, a ground motion recorded in the severely...
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...
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...
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