RAPID: Forensic Analysis of Eccentrically Braced Frame Fracture during the February 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake

该快速反应研究（RAPID）奖的主要研究目标是确定和了解可能导致偏心支撑框架（EBF）钢建筑地震诱导断裂的条件。为此，将对EBF结构在世界范围内的首次地震破坏进行多尺度法医分析。2011年2月新西兰基督城地震期间，基督城医院发生了此类故障。 在此RAPID下收集的易损坏数据是修理开始之前从故障框架上采集的材料样本。 法医分析包括模拟包括几个尺度（从建筑规模到微观机械断裂），并将从失败的框架进行机械和化学材料测试。如果研究成功，将导致发现新的EBF失效模式，直接影响设计安全。 这项研究的广泛意义将包括发现新的故障模式和随之而来的设计考虑的增强，从而导致更安全的建筑物。在结构工程的直接学科之外，一个重要的影响是对观察到的现场故障进行全面的端到端模拟（包括几个尺度）的建模。除了揭示这种端到端仿真方法的缺陷，从而产生新的研究之外，这将在各种学术成就水平上具有很高的教育和培训价值，包括向工业转移技术。

The principal research objective of this Rapid Response Research (RAPID) award is to identify and understand the conditions that could cause an earthquake-induced fracture in eccentrically braced frame (EBF) steel buildings. For this purpose, multi-scale forensic analysis of the first earthquake failure worldwide of an EBF structure will be conducted. Such a failure occurred in the Christchurch Hospital during the February 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake. The perishable data to be collected under this RAPID are material specimens from the failed frame before repairs begin. The forensic analysis involves simulations encompassing several scales (from building scale to micromechanical fracture), and will feature mechanical and chemical material tests from the failed frame. The research, if successful, will result in the discovery of new failure modes of EBFs with direct implications for design safety. The broad significance of this research will include the discovery of new failure modes and the consequent enhancement of design considerations, resulting in safer buildings. Outside the immediate discipline of structural engineering, a significant impact is the modeling of a comprehensive end-to-end simulation (encompassing several scales) of an observed field failure. In addition to revealing deficiencies in such end-to-end simulation methodologies, and thus spawning new research, this will have high educational and training value across various levels of academic accomplishment, including technology transfer to industry.