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Buildings (EERI Earthquake Reconnaissance Team Report: M7.8 Gorkha, Nepal Earthquake on April 25, 2015 and its Aftershocks)

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Abstract

The most common building typologies in Nepal are reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings with masonry infill walls, unreinforced masonry (URM) bearing wall buildings, and wood frame buildings (Figure 5-1). The RC frames with masonry infills are commonly constructed in urban and semi-urban areas. Most of these buildings are three to five stories high, and most privately owned buildings are non-engineered. High rise buildings (up to 17 stories high) are also found in Kathmandu, but their number is limited. Burnt clay bricks are widely used as masonry infill walls; external walls are generally one full brick thick (~ 230 mm), and internal walls are one half brick thick. URM bearing wall buildings are an obvious choice for the population in rural areas and the outskirts of cities, primarily to limit the material expenses. Such buildings are generally two to four stories high and constructed using burnt clay brick masonry or stone masonry with cement, lime, or mud mortar. In some of the older constructions, a different mortar known as Vajra (a mix of lime and brick dust) is also observed. These buildings have either wooden or reinforced concrete flooring. A hybrid type of construction also prevails in semi-urban and rural areas, where wood frames are used in the ground story front façade, and rest of the house is made of unreinforced masonry bearing walls. Wood frame houses (generally two to three stories high) are also observed in rural areas where the material for such construction is easily available.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Other Report
Title Buildings (EERI Earthquake Reconnaissance Team Report: M7.8 Gorkha, Nepal Earthquake on April 25, 2015 and its Aftershocks)
Chapter 5
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center
Description 26 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype Other Report
Larger Work Title EERI Earthquake Reconnaissance Team Report: M7.8 Gorkha, Nepal Earthquake on April 25, 2015 and its Aftershocks
First page 5-1
Last page 5-26
Country Nepal
Other Geospatial Kathmandu Valley
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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