NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Reconnaissance Report on the Cairo, Egypt Earthquake of October 12, 1992.
- File
- PB93188605.pdf
- Author(s)
- Khater, M.
- Source
- National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, Buffalo, NY.; National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.; New York State Science and Technology Foundation, Albany., December 23, 1992, 50 p.
- Abstract
- The report summarizes observations made after the magnitude 5.4 Cairo, Egypt earthquake of October 12, 1992. The author first reviews the historical seismicity of the region and follows this by examination of the seismic performance of both non-engineered and engineered structures. Of the former, unreinforced masonry buildings and historic monuments receive special mention. Among engineered structures, the author concentrates upon the performance of reinforced concrete frames with unreinforced masonry infill, RC shear wall buildings, and steel and RC moment-resisting frames. Observed damage mechanisms and modes of failure included pounding and soft story failure, the latter contributing to the catastrophic pancake collapse of a 14 story nonductile concrete building in Heliopolis, which killed 61 people. Damages to lifelines are also reviewed.
- Keywords
- Cracking (Fracturing); Cairo (Egypt); Damage assessment; Bridges; Nile river; Egyptian Arab Republic; Seismology; Techtonics; Buildings; Earthquake engineering; Reconnaissance; History; Earthquakes