Development of a rapid post-earthquake functionality assessment system for tall buildings : a case study of Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital | |
| Author | Shrestha, Saurav Kumar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ST-25-17 |
| Subject(s) | Tall buildings--Earthquake effects--Case studies Earthquakes--technology assessment--Case studies |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Earthquakes are among the most destructive natural hazards, capable of causing serious damage to buildings. However, it is relatively uncommon for buildings to experience very large earthquakes that lead to complete collapse, mainly due to the long return period of such extreme events. What is far more typical during a building’s lifetime are frequent low- to moderate-intensity earthquakes. Although these smaller events usually leave the main structural system unharmed—since structural elements are designed to resist seismic forces, they can still cause significant damage to non-structural components, which are often not explicitly designed for seismic resistance. Failure of these non-structural components can lead to a loss of building functionality. This issue becomes especially critical for hospitals, which must remain operational to provide continuous patient care. Quickly determining the functionality state after an earthquake is therefore crucial, as prolonged uncertainty can severely hinder a hospital’s ability to serve the community.With this in mind, the objective of this study is to develop a system that can rapidly evaluate the post-earthquake functionality state of a hospital building. The case study focuses on the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai Province, with particular attention given to assessing functionality loss when the building enters a partially functional state. Identifying the most critical non-structural components and systems that significantly contribute to functionality loss is also a key aspect of this research.In summary, this study successfully developed a rapid assessment system for determining both the functionality state and the functionality loss of non-structural systems after an earthquake. The most vulnerable components and systems responsible for major functionality loss have been clearly identified. Recommendations for improving the seismic performance of these critical systems have been provided, and the improvements have proven to be highly effective, reducing the building’s functionality loss from a major level to only a minor one. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Structural Engineering (STE) /Former Name = Structural Engineering and Construction (ST) |
| Chairperson(s) | Pennung Warnitchai |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thanakorn Pheeraphan;Krishna, Chaitanya |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |