Chairperson:
Ben Harris
Mission:
Investigate and report on the performance of masonry structures following a disaster.
Goals:
Send a reconnaissance team to the site of significant natural or man-made disasters to
investigate the impact on masonry structures. The team will then prepare a report on the
investigation.
Activities:
Investigations have been conducted: following the Northridge Earthquake, in the wake of
Hurricanes Katrina, Opal and Fran, and following a series of Tornadoes in Tennessee . Reports were prepared following
most of
these investigations; the reports were marketed through TMS. The team also conducts
training workshops. |
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| TMS's
Investigating Disasters Team examined damage from Hurricane Katrina
recently. Direct wind pressure damage was
less than expected, likely because winds from Katrina were not as severe as projected.
Nevertheless, the team observed wind damage in many areas, such as to the upper portion
of this brick clad hospital in Long Beach, Mississippi (above) and this Wal-mart store in
Gulfport, Mississippi (left). No damage from wind was found to properly designed
and constructed masonry |
As
with other past disasters, the TMS Investigating Disasters Team unfortunately found
examples of poor performance of modern masonry structures, almost all of which exhibited
severe construction defects or non-code complying construction, thus emphasizing the
continued need for education on proper construction techniques and for inspection to
ensure a quality masonry system. |
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