Performance of steel buildings and nonstructural elements during the 27 February 2010 Maule (Chile) Earthquake1

This paper presents performance of steel buildings and nonstructural elements during the 27 February 2010 Maule Earthquake in Chile. Structural steel buildings are not common in Chile, due to the relatively high cost of material. The majority of damage to steel structures was observed in industrial facilities. In general, the structural steel buildings performed well. Limited damage was observed in some of the older buildings. Extensive damage was sustained by nonstructural elements, including masonry infill walls, suspended ceilings, partition walls, and architectural features. Brick masonry partition walls, commonly used in Chilean buildings, suffered damage when used in frame buildings with little drift control. The paper presents a summary of observed damage and a comparison of Chilean and Canadian design practices for steel buildings, with lessons drawn from observed structural performance.