Earthquake damage of self-built reinforced concrete frame structures in MS 8.1 Nepal Earthquake

Abstract

An earthquake measured Ms 8.1 occurred near the Nepal Pokhara on April 25, 2015(Beijing time). As a member of China to Nepal disaster assessment team, the author conducted thorough investigation about the earthquake damage of all kinds of engineering structure in Nepal. Self-built reinforced concrete frame structure which is widely accepted by the people at all levels in Nepal and is one of the building structure forms which are widely built suffered damage by varying degrees in the strong earthquake and aftershocks. Based on the seismic damage investigation date of the earthquake and its aftershocks, the characteristics of aseismic construction are summed up, the damage characteristics and the reasons of its destruction are analyzed. The main problems in the design and construction of the structure are pointed out. The advices on the existing problem of self-built reinforced concrete frame structures are given.