The 1992 Roermond earthquake, the Netherlands: earthquake engineering

Abstract

An overview of the structural damage resulting from the April 13,1992 Roermond earthquake is presented. Rather than addressing the need of code requirements to enhance the structural integrity of buildings in low-intensity seismic zones such as the Roermond region, the paper addresses the effects of the basic architectural form of buildings which can dramatically affect the seismic resistance of buildings and adversely affect the possibility of structural survival. Particularly in regions of low seismicity, considering the influence of zoning and architectural layout in building design will enhance the earthquake resistance of buildings far more than could be expected through the use of earthquake design code provisions. The paper discusses the effects of design 'errors' on the potential earthquake response of buildings and offers solutions to improve the seismic performance.