The Magnitude 6.4 – earthquakes in Albania and Croatia – engineering analysis of earthquake damage and lessons for standardization in Europe In 2019 and 2020, the Balkan region was hit by two earthquakes of magnitude M W = 6.4. On November 26, 2019, an earthquake struck Northwestern Albania. It was the strongest to hit Albania in more than 40 years. Cities such as Thumanë, Tirana, and Durrës suffered damage, but Durrës was the hardest hit with several building collapsed. On December 29, 2020, an earthquake occurred in the Sisak-Moslavina county of Croatia, located approximately 50 km south of Zagreb. Comparable to Albania, it was the strongest to hit in the Pokupsko-Petrinja seismic zone since the October 8, 1909 Pokupsko earthquake and the largest earthquake in the region in 140 years. It caused extensive damage in the cities of Petrinja, Glina, and Sisak as well as in numerous neighboring small towns and small settlements in the region. The shaking effects and building damage of both earthquakes could be investigated and documented during field operations. In Durrës (Albania), the most affected buildings by the earthquake damage were reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings with infill walls. Whereas, the Croatia earthquake caused major damage on the older and modern unreinforced masonry buildings. The paper provides an overview of the earthquake-induced damage in different types of buildings and their variations. The causes of the damage as well as the consequences for rapid response to earthquake are discussed in close relation to the standardization in low to moderate seismic regions in Europe.
Application of the ETB Richtlinie to fasteners of windows and façades The German ETB-Richtlinie „Bauteile, die gegen Absturz sichern“ (structures that protect persons against fall) from 1985 is one of the oldest standards still contained in the current Technical Building Regulations (Part A, Serial No. A 1.2.1.3). Like the Eurocode 1, it defines the actions on structures that protect against fall. But in contrast to EC1, it also contains verification methods and impact loads. This paper outlines the scope, where the ETB-Richtlinie is still relevant today, and deals with the theoretical background of impact actions, which has been poorly documented so far. In addition, extended verification methods for window fastening in highly thermally insulating masonry are presented, which were developed in a research project cofunded by the DIBt.
Rock-mortar-interaction in mortared natural stone structures Support and protection structures made of natural stones are now among the standard applications in road and railroad construction and related civil engineering works. A distinction is made between non-mortared and mortared constructions, with the latter using concrete mortar to form the joints crease in inner stability of the structures. Concrete mortar improves the adhesive bond between the individual rocks reducing the tendency of deformations. Shear parameters (adhesion between stone and mortar as well as the friction angle) build up resistance to possible shear stresses from occurring earth pressure and play an essential role with regard to the load-bearing capacity of such structures. In this study, attempts are made to experimentally deduce characteristic values for adhesion strength and friction angle by means of laboratory tests. In addition, the properties of the concrete mortar itself have to be recorded. The final goal is to draw conclusions about the inner stability of supportive stone constructions.
Minimal resource consumption in the urban context Within the earth's boundaries, global resources are limited. However, a continuing growth of global population and an accompanying increase of wealth, causes an annual increase of resource consumption. The built environment, especially urban structures are the main drivers for resource consumption. In phenomenological investigation, the study, summarized here, analyses the impacts of certain parameters of typical urban residential buildings on resource consumption. Herein, the classic single-family house, four- and six-storey apartment buildings and 20- and 40-storey high-rise residential buildings are quantified and put in relation in three different urban densities. In conclusion, a case study shows the optimisation potential of high-rise buildings that can become a sustainable building typology under certain circumstances.
