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

这项快速反应研究（Rapid）奖的主要研究目标是识别和了解可能导致偏心支撑框架（EBF）钢结构建筑地震诱发断裂的条件。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证分析。2011年2月新西兰克赖斯特彻奇地震期间，克赖斯特彻奇医院就发生了这种故障。在此RAPID下收集的易腐数据是在修理开始之前从损坏的框架上收集的材料样本。法医分析包括多个尺度（从建筑尺度到微机械断裂）的模拟，并将对失效框架进行机械和化学材料测试。这项研究如果成功，将导致发现新的ebf失效模式，对设计安全性有直接影响。这项研究的广泛意义将包括发现新的失效模式和随之而来的设计考虑的增强，从而产生更安全的建筑。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破坏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模拟方法的缺陷，从而产生新的研究之外，这将在不同水平的学术成就中具有很高的教育和培训价值，包括向行业的技术转移。

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.