ASCE/EERI Joint Sept Program: What’s new in the seismic performance of nonstructural components? 

The majority of the total construction cost in typical buildings is attributed to non-structural elements. Recent earthquakes worldwide have seen a significant portion of overall losses linked to the damage sustained by these non-structural components. Even minor ground shaking can lead to damage, impacting the functionality of buildings after earthquakes.  Seismic design codes worldwide offer limited guidelines for non-structural elements, potentially contributing to their frequent underperformance during seismic events. To underscore the necessity of implementing seismic regulations and experimental seismic protocols focused on enhancing the seismic resilience of non-structural elements, this presentation outlines:

• the observed damage suffered by non-structural elements in the aftermath of the 2016 Central Italy earthquake and other earthquakes worldwide. Among the most affected components were partition walls, ceiling systems, non-structural vaults, chimneys, and storage racks.
• Results of full-scale testing on post-installed anchors performed at the University of California, San Diego. The observed damage on the tested reinforced concrete shear walls highlights the importance of securing the connection in seismic applications.

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