2013-11-22

Investigation of the Pyne

Gould Building Collapse
during the New Zealand
Christchurch February
2011 Earthquake
Technical Presentation Francis Ayan
29th September 2014

Presentation Outline
New Zealand Christchurch February Earthquake brief background
Pyne Gould Building (PGC) description
Analysis approach
Developing the structural analysis model
Analysis results and comparison to actual building collapse.
Q&A

February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Facts

Magnitude 6.3 and 10kms deep and lasted only 10
seconds in the initial shake
185 people killed making it the second deadliest
natural disaster in New Zealand
Wide-spread liquefaction across Christchurch due
to a very low ground water table.
More than a thousand aftershocks recorded in the
region since the earthquake.

February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Facts continued

February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Facts continued

Pyne Gould Corporation Building

Building Description
Five-storey RC building with shear core walls and gravity
perimeter frames.
Ground floor level has more walls (i.e. stiffer that upper floor
levels).
Designed in 1963 and met the NZ codes during that time in
terms of strength and detailing.
Compared to the current NZ design codes, the building
achieves 30-40% of the design standards.
Shear core is lightly reinforced.
The building is founded on shallow pad foundation.
18 people killed from the building collapse.

Pyne Gould Corporation Building - continued

200mm Thick
Wall, Typical

840x610m
m wide RC
Beams

250mm sq.
Columns
(typ.)

150mm
Thick Slab,
Typical

300mm sq.
columns

Ground Floor
400mm dia.
RC columns
typical

Note: The
columns
cantilever off
the beams.

Typical Floor

Pyne Gould Corporation Building - continued

Building Elevation

Pyne Gould Corporation Building - continued

3D Revit Model
Shear Core Wall

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Pyne Gould Corporation Building - continued

Structural changes

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Analysis
1. Section Analysis using RESPONSE 2000
Input
a)

Cross section of the shear core RC walls, actual wall reinforcement and non-linear
properties of the unconfined concrete and steel.

Analysis - continued

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Output

Moment-curvature properties (capacity) of the shear core RC walls to be used

for the non-linear analysis.

Moment Capacity, kN.m

a)

Rotation capacity, radians

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Analysis - continued
Modal Analysis
a) SAP2000 model intended to check the stiffness (i.e. period) of
the building

Analysis - continued
Modal Analysis Results

- First fundamental period is 0.48 seconds. Manual calculation using Rayleighs

method is used to verify the result.

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Analysis - continued
Non-linear analysis using PERFORM 3D
-

PERFORM 3D is an analysis software intended for seismic assessment of

structures or for performance-based design purposes.

A. Modelling of structural elements

i.
Beams

Beam hinge: Moment and rotation

capacity definition
The key points are as follows:
Y Point first yield point where significant non-linear behaviour begins.
U Point ultimate strength point where maximum strength is reached.
L Point ductile limit point where significant strength loss begins.
R Point residual strength point where minimum residual strength is
reached.
X Point final deformation point where analysis usually stops.

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Analysis - continued
A. Modelling of structural elements - continued
i.
Beams - continued

Values for beam

moments and hinge
rotations can be
generated from other
software tools like
RESPONSE 2000 or
SAP2000.

Beam hinge: Moment and rotation capacity definition in PERFORM 3D

Analysis - continued
A. Modelling of structural elements - continued
ii. Link Beams

Link beam and shear hinge definition in PERFORM 3D

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Analysis - continued

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A. Modelling of structural elements - continued

ii. Columns similar in concept to beam but the P-M interaction surface needs
to be defined.

Analysis - continued
A. Modelling of structural elements - continued
ii. Columns continued

Column hinge definition in PERFORM 3D

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Analysis - continued
A. Modelling of structural elements - continued
ii. Columns continued

P-M Interaction Surface definition in PERFORM 3D

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Analysis - continued
A. Modelling of structural elements - continued
iii. Walls modelled using fiber elements

The fiber elements are set to act in parallel;

concrete fibers in compression and steel fibers in
tension.

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Analysis - continued
A. Modelling of structural elements - continued
iii. Walls continued

The fiber elements defined

are stacked to form the full
wall elevation.

Wall 1

Wall 2

Wall 3

Wall 4

Wall 5

Elevation

Hinge Zone where wall is

expected to yield

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Analysis - continued
B. Non-linear Time History analysis
- A non-linear analysis where the structure is subjected to actual or scaled
earthquake loads.

Structure with non-linear

properties

Earthquake Loading

Building elevation

Analysis - continued
Full 3D Model in PERFORM 3D

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Analysis - continued
Analysis Results Full 3D view

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Analysis - continued
Analysis Results Videos
PGC Presentation\Videos\PGC Feb 2011 - Normal Speed.avi
PGC Presentation\Videos\3D View-wall elevation.avi
PGC Presentation\Videos\Elevation.avi

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Analysis - continued
Analysis Results - Elevation

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Analysis - continued
Actual Building Collapse

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