During a recent visit to Caracas, Venezuela, the authors discovered that while Venezuela has adopted a building code with modern seismic provisions (Norma Covenin 1756-98) and does in fact enforce a majority of these provisions, significant conceptual errors in the design of the lateral force-resisting systems of new buildings are recurring on a near-universal level, often as a result of ignoring the potential adverse effects of nonstructural elements on the structural system. In the event of a large earthquake, this design philosophy will have substantial economic and life-safety repercussions unless the typical design philosophy of Venezuelan engineers and architects changes. It is hoped that this paper will serve as a call to action for engineers of all countries to recognize the potential adverse effects of nonstructural elements on the behavior of the lateral force-resisting system.
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Research Article|
November 01, 2004
Criticism of Current Seismic Design and Construction Practice in Venezuela: A Bleak Perspective
Gary R. Searer, M.EERI;
Gary R. Searer, M.EERI
a)
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., 2200 Powell Street, Suite 925, Emeryville, CA 94608
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Eduardo A. Fierro, M.EERI
Eduardo A. Fierro, M.EERI
a)
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., 2200 Powell Street, Suite 925, Emeryville, CA 94608
Search for other works by this author on:
Gary R. Searer, M.EERI
a)
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., 2200 Powell Street, Suite 925, Emeryville, CA 94608
Eduardo A. Fierro, M.EERI
a)
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., 2200 Powell Street, Suite 925, Emeryville, CA 94608
Publisher: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
First Online:
01 Jun 2020
Online ISSN: 1944-8201
Print ISSN: 8755-2930
© 2004 Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Earthquake Spectra (2004) 20 (4): 1265–1278.
Article history
First Online:
01 Jun 2020
Citation
Gary R. Searer, Eduardo A. Fierro; Criticism of Current Seismic Design and Construction Practice in Venezuela: A Bleak Perspective. Earthquake Spectra 2004;; 20 (4): 1265–1278. doi: https://doi.org/10.1193/1.1806831
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