Using simplified indices to forecast the seismic vulnerability of New Zealand unreinforced masonry churches

Abstract

Unreinforced masonry churches are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because they are often deteriorated and damaged, they were built with comparatively low strength materials, they are heavy, and the connections between the various structural components are often insufficient to resist loads generated during earthquakes. A simplified method for seismic assessment of large span masonry churches is presented and data from 44 churches located in Italy, Portugal and Spain are used to provide lower bound limits for different simplified geometrical indexes. Subsequently, the proposed thresholds are validated with data from the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes, including 48 clay brick and stone unreinforced masonry churches. Finally, data collected for 40 unreinforced masonry churches in Wellington and Dunedin are used to identify churches in these cities requiring priority detailed seismic evaluation.