679 FTP

THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF TALL AND SPECIAL BUILDINGS Struct. Design Tall Spec. Build.
20, 83101 (2011)
Published online 6 December 2010 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/tal.679
Performance of industrial facilities in the Chilean earthquake of 27 February 2010

Ernesto F. Cruz1,*, and Dania Valdivia2
1
Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Ponticia Universidad Catlica de Chile, Santiago, Chile 2 EQCO Earthquake Engineering Consultants, Santiago, Chile
SUMMARY A sample of the effects of the Chile earthquake of 27 February 2010 in industrial structures is presented. A collection of pictures taken throughout the affected area are used to show examples of the typical damage observed. The causes of the damage are not studied in detail, but basic observations are provided. Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
1. INTRODUCTION On 27 February 2010 at 03:34 local time, a very large earthquake (Mw = 8.8) affected a large portion of the territory of Chile. The ground shaking lasted for more than two minutes and caused signicant damage to all types of structures throughout the affected area. The seismological characteristics of the event are described elsewhere and will not be repeated here. See e.g. the paper by Lew et al. (2010) or the information provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) at their web site (USGS, 2010). The earthquake felt area includes the most densely populated areas of Chile and three of the major population and industrial centres of the country: the capital city of Santiago with a population over 5 million people, the ValparasoVia del Mar area where one of the major ports is located with another 2 to 3 million people and the TalcahuanoConcepcin area where an important part of the heavy industry of the country is located with another 2 or 3 million people. There are a signicant number of engineered structures that under the effects of the earthquake experienced different levels of damage; from no or little damage (the great majority of them) to several near-collapse situations and partial collapses in multi-storey buildings. The intent of this paper is to show an overview of the observed damage in several different types of industrial facilities. At this time, no signicant analysis of the damage or the modes of failure is provided, only a brief description of the observed damage and the general characteristics of the different structures. The exact location and identication of the industrial facilities has not been provided as there are sensitive issues related to public image of the companies that own the facilities and also issues related to insurance claims still to be resolved. An approximate location of the sites from where observations and pictures are provided is shown in the map included in Figure 1 where markers have been added on top of the basic Google Map for the most strongly affected area. Some of the labels in the map do not show the corresponding legend at the scale used. The labels and the actual locations of the different sites are shown in Table 1, ordered according to their location, approximately from north to south. 2. EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON POWER FACILITIES A sample of the effects of the earthquake in different power facilities is presented next. The installations shown correspond to power plants that include both heavy and large equipment (steam
* Correspondence to: Ernesto F. Cruz, Ponticia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Ingenieria Estructural y Geotecnica, Vicua Mackenna 4860, Macul (Correo 22), Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile E-mail: ecruz@ing.puc.cl Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA
Figure 1. Map of the observation area. Red star shows the location of the epicentre (USGS). Letter labels show locations of sites according to Table 1.
Table 1. Description and labels of observation sites. Label V Q N C W H B P S M Site Coal-red power station Electrical substation Combined cycle power station Diesel-red power station Winery Wharf for bulk cargo Coal-red power station (in construction), 1970s coal-red power station Intake structure for power plant (in construction) Coal-red power station (in construction) Precast warehouse Location Near Puchuncavi Near Quillota Near Quillota Near Codegua Near Curico Near Talcahuano In Coronel In Coronel port Near Coronel In Mininco
generating boiler, steam turbine and generator), and also large steel structure buildings to house or support this equipment (boiler steel support structure and steam turbine building). In Figure 2, the effects of the earthquake in electrical substation equipment are shown. Damage to fragile components occurred in these components were promptly replaced using spare parts to restore operation within a day or two. Between the power station and the electrical substations and transmission lines, large transformers are located. Figure 3 shows a very large transformer that did not sustain damage except for evidence of displacements at the supports and anchoring systems.
Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Struct. Design Tall Spec. Build. 20, 83101 (2011) DOI: 10.1002/tal
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE
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Figure 2. Electrical substation near Quillota (location Q). Current and measuring transformers, inclined isolators. Damage at the base of the isolator.
Figures 47 show different details of the steel support structure (55 m tall) of a steam generating boiler in a power station near Puchuncavi. The damage observed in the steel structure is restricted to some connections that are clearly under-designed on have very poor detailing solutions. In Figure 5, notice the web buckling and yielding caused by large diagonal elements connected through a small secondary beam without any web reinforcement. Also observed is some signicant deformation (due to inelastic behaviour) of the main seismic stoppers, the elements that control the lateral displacementsand therefore transfer the large inertia forcesof the hanging boiler to the steel support structure. Most of the heavy equipment in power stations is normally supported in large reinforced concrete foundations. The earthquake-induced forces in this type of equipment are very large, and seismic stoppers are required to transfer the loads to the foundation. Figure 8 shows evidence (scratching) of the displacements experienced by the equipment at the seismic stopper location. In Figure 9, the
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Figure 3. Diesel-red power station near Codegua (location C). Main transformer (350-ton weight). No damage, clear evidence of displacements at the supports and anchoring system.
Figure 4. Coal-red power station near Puchuncav (location V). Support structure for steam generator boiler. Damage to a clip angle connection due to poor detailing.
foundation of the generator of a different installation is shown. Close inspection revealed hairline cracking of the concrete at the side of the reinforced concrete foundation block in the direction of the thrust force caused by seismic stopper of the generator. In power plant installations, there are normally many instances of interaction between different large equipment and components. Figure 10 shows a view of the inspection carried out inside of the exhaust duct from the gas turbine to the bypass chimney and the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) Boiler inlet, where evidence of displacements was found but no damage could be identied.
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Figure 5. Coal-red power station near Puchuncav (location V). Support structure for steam generator boiler. Damage to secondary beam at main bracing elements connection.
Figure 6. Coal-red power station near Puchuncav (location V). Support structure for steam generator boiler. Detail of seismic stoppers, connecting heavy mechanical components (pressure parts) of the boiler to the steel support structure.
In coal-red power plants, the systems corresponding to the coal handling are made up of several different rather large structures. One example of this is the coal stacker system and its different components shown in Figures 1114. Figure 11 shows the foundation and support system for the coal stacker, made up of reinforced concrete (hollow) columns on a raft foundation supported on piles that are located on both sides of the reclaiming tunnel running underneath the centre line of the columns. Figure 12 shows the upper part of the coal stacker, corresponding to a steel structure, to support the coal tripper car and the coal conveyor. Figures 13 and 14 show the coal tripper car, a steel moment
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Figure 7. Coal-red power station near Puchuncav (location V). Support structure for steam generator boiler. Damage to seismic stoppers, excessive lateral deformation due to inelastic behaviour.
Figure 8. Combined cycle power plant near Quillota (location N). Main seismic stopper of the steam turbine in the transverse direction.
frame that suffered signicant damage in the welded connections. Note the uplift clamps detail in the base of the columns of the frame to avoid derailing of the car due to overturning effects. In the power station, there are several small (two to four stories) buildings, normally reinforced concrete buildings to house all the auxiliary electrical, and control systems. Figure 15 shows the effects of the earthquake on the non-structural components (ceilings and Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning or HVAC system) of the control building of the plant. The picture is from the third oor of a reinforced concrete building; the structure and all non-structural components were already completed at the time of the earthquake. No plant equipment was installed at the time.
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Figure 9. Diesel-red power plant near Codegua (location C). Seismic stopper of the generator.
Figure 10. Combined cycle power plant near Quillota (location N). Inside of the exhaust duct from gas turbine to bypass chimney and HRSG boiler inlet. Evidence of displacements but no damage.
Many instances can be identied of damage caused by interaction of equipment components and their foundations and other structures or buildings. Figures 16 and 17 are examples of this situation. The interaction of the foundation of the supports for the Isolated Phase Bus Duct with the buttresses of a reinforced concrete building housing the electrical substation (Gas Insulated Substation or GIS) caused damage in the latter (Figure 16). The partitions of one of the oors in the control building were damaged by the interaction with the steel elements of the steam turbine building located next to it (Figure 17). In both cases, the damage is evidence of a lack of appropriate distance between the two buildings or components to properly account for expected earthquake induced lateral displacements.
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Figure 11. Coal-red power station near Coronel, under construction (location S). Support structure for coal tripper, reinforced concrete columns, raft foundation on piles.
Figure 12. Coal-red power station near Coronel, under construction (location S). Coal conveyor and coal tripper car. Steel structure supported on the concrete columns of Figure 11.
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Figure 13. Coal-red power station near Coronel, under construction (location S). Coal tripper car, a steel frame with moment connections that failed.
Figure 14. Coal-red power station near Coronel, under construction (location S). Detail of steel frame moment connections of coal tripper car.
In the power plants visited, most of the heavy equipment and large buildings have raft foundations on piles, therefore in general, no damage due to settlement effects can be observed. For smaller equipment and systems, some damage to equipment and especially piping that is due to foundation rotation or large settlements can be identied. Figure 18, a picture taken at one the sites of the power plants under construction, shows an example of that. Note the two anges of the pipe that were ready to be bolted at the time of the earthquake and now show a very signicant lateral displacement between the two.
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Figure 15. Coal-red power station near Coronel, under construction (location S). Control building already completed. Damage to ceilings and non-structural components.
Figure 16. Coal-red power station, near Coronel, under construction (location S). Interaction between adjacent equipment foundation (IPB ducts) and GIS building.
The operation of coal-red power plants, in particular, the steam condenser, requires a large amount of water to be circulated through the cooling water system. In the case shown here, the water is brought from the sea through a large diameter pipe that runs underground inside the plant (trench) but that in the intake area in the sea is supported by a steel structure. Figure 19 shows a general view of the structure that did not sustain damage due to the earthquake. It is relevant to note that the area of the bay where this structure is located was not signicantly affected by the tsunami, and there is no evidence of signicant run-up of the sea level in that part of the coast. One of the largest structures in the power plant is the steel support structure for the steam generating boiler. In the case of the power plant shown here, the height of the structure reaches 75 m (185 ft), and at the time of the earthquake was not completed; part of the structural elements were still in the
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Figure 17. Coal-red power station, in Coronel, under construction (location B). Damage to partitions in a 4-storey reinforced concrete building.
process of being erected. The mechanical components were not all in place and several large pieces of equipment were only propped up not permanently tied down to the structure. Figure 20 shows an overall view of the structure. In general, the structure performed quite well; only minor damage can be observed due to incomplete erection of the structure and some of the large pieces of equipment attached to it. Figure 21 illustrates the damage to the coal silos (upper left), partially erected at the time of the earthquake, that fell off their support; and to the anchor bolts of a very heavy equipment (more than 300-ton weight), a Gasgas heater supported only in two beams (part of the equipment) connected by bolts to the main steel structure. The damage to the bolts (failed in shear) can be explained by the lack of seismic stoppers required by the Chilean codes for equipment this size. In Figure 22, the damage observed at the top of the concrete pedestals, especially those of the main columns of the structure, is illustrated. There is some damage due to construction errors, especially near the top of the pedestal where damage to the grout toping is observed (not relevant to the column strength). Also, damage is found at the side of the pedestals near the top because of lack of reinforcement in that area and consequently, because of lack of connement to the casings of the embedded anchor bolts. Damage is caused by large lateral force transferred by the shear key of the columns where the main diagonals reach the foundation. Right next to the location of the power plant under construction, there is an older power plant, also coal-red, but about half the size of the new plant. Having been built in the 1970s, this plant suffered some damage. The most signicant damage in the boiler steel support structure is in the seismic stoppers as illustrated in Figure 23. In general, the steel buildings of the power plant, all of them braced frames, do not show damage to the main structure. There is some damage to purlins and cladding due to incomplete erection or
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Figure 18. Coal-red power station, near Coronel, under construction (location S). Shallow Foundation rotation caused lateral displacements of the anges of the pipes (not yet bolted).
Figure 19. Coal-red power station, near Coronel, under construction (location P). Wharf for cooling water intake pipe (steel pipe).
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Figure 20. Coal-red power station, in Coronel, under construction (location B). Steel Support Structure for Boiler.
caused by unsecured elements or construction equipment. Figure 24 shows the damage observed at the overhead bridge crane girder of the steam turbine building, limited to deformed railings and platforms. The crane beams were not damaged and the wheels (of the crane girder and also of the crane trolley) did not jump off the rails. Both of them have up-lift clamps as required by Chilean code. In several locations, evidence can be found of large vertical accelerations. A sample of this is illustrated in Figure 25 where two containers full with equipments located at the 12 m concrete slab of the Steam Turbine building are shown. The container in the top jumped off its support and was resting at a displaced position. 3. EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON WINERY FACILITIES In many different locations throughout the central valley, the Chilean Wine Country, damage was observed to wine storage facilities, mainly in stainless steel at bottom tanks where damage due to buckling of the shell caused by large overturning moments occurred. Figure 26 illustrates one example of this type of failure. In the case of wineries, damage is not restricted only to tanks. There was a very large amount of damage to storage facilities where storage racks with wine barrels were destroyed and both the barrels and their contents were lost, causing signicant economic losses. Figure 27 shows an example of this type of damage.
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Figure 21. Coal-red power station, in Coronel, under construction (location B). Heavy equipment in process of erection. Coal silos (upper left), and gasgas heaters (others 3 pictures).
Figure 22. Coal-red power station in Coronel, under construction (location B). Pedestals for the main columns of the boiler steel support structure.
Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Struct. Design Tall Spec. Build. 20, 83101 (2011) DOI: 10.1002/tal
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Figure 23. Coal-red power station in Coronel built in the 1970s (location B). Damage to the seismic stoppers of the boiler.
Figure 24. Coal-red power station in Coronel, under construction (location B). Steam turbine building overhead bridge crane girder.
4. EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON WHARVES In the affected area, there are many different locations where different types of wharves exist. Damage in wharves was mainly due to ground failure caused in many cases by liquefaction. In at least one case, as illustrated in Figure 28, the ground shaking caused the failure of the diagonal piles (steel tubes) that were complete sheared off from the concrete slab. The connection did not show any reinforcement going through the shear plane. The large exibility resulting from the failure of the diagonal piles is likely to have caused the large lateral displacements and accelerations that induced the failure of the support leg of one of the large bulk cranes operating in the wharf. The crane has four legs that run on rails and one of the wheels assemblies was severely damaged. Figure 29 shows the damaged crane with a temporary diagonal support. 5. EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS One example of a typical conguration of industrial buildings in Chile is shown in Figure 30. The building is located near Mininco (location M), which is rather far from the rupture area. Regardless
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Figure 25. Coal-red power station in Coronel, under construction (location B). Steam turbine building. Containers located on the concrete slab at 12 m elevation. Evidence of large vertical accelerations.
Figure 26. Winery near Curic (location W). Failure at base of stainless steel storage tanks (picture courtesy of Prof. Jos Luis Almazn).
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Figure 27. Winery near Curic (location W). Damage to contents of storage facilities. storage racks and barrels (picture courtesy of Prof. Jos Luis Almazn).
Figure 28. Wharf near Concepcin (location H). Diagonal piles were sheared off at the top.
Figure 29. Wharf near Concepcin (location H). Damage to the crane support. Temporary diagonal support has been added.
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Figure 30. Mininco (location M). Warehouse building, precast concrete.
Figure 31. Mininco (location M). Warehouse building, precast concrete. Damage at supports of beams.
of the distance from the rupture area, this location experienced signicant ground shaking and most of the contents of the warehouse were completely disrupted. The building structural conguration is based on precast concrete elements, long span pretensioned beams simply supported on cantilevered columns. No signicant structural damage was evident, although in some cases, initial stages of damage at the beam supports can be observed (Figure 31). 6. FINAL REMARKS In general, engineered structures together with standard construction practices performed well. There are a few exceptions that need to be studied in depth to be able to understand the causes of the observed failures or poor behaviour. Among industrial facilities, the main reasons for inadequate performance can be identied as mechanical or electrical equipment with no seismic qualication or inadequate characteristics for earthquake conditions, old or not properly designed structures, and concrete pedestals with poor design and detailing.
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There are a few instances where it is apparent that the existing codes have not been able to succeed in providing appropriate behaviour; consequently, they need to be improved. The effects of site soil conditions and of irregularities in the building/structure conguration appear as the main cause of problems, more so than the actual very large size of the earthquake.
REFERENCES
Lew M, Naeim F, Carpenter LD, Youssef NF, Rojas F, Adaros MS, Saragoni GR. 2010. Seismological and tectonic setting of the 27 February 2010 Offshore Maule, Chile Earthquake. Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings 19(8): 838852. USGS. 2010. Magnitude 8.8Offshore Maule, Chile, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/ us2010tfan/ [April 2010].
Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Struct. Design Tall Spec. Build. 20, 83101 (2011) DOI: 10.1002/tal

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THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF TALL AND SPECIAL BUILDINGS Struct. Design Tall Spec. Build.

20, 83101 (2011)

Performance of industrial facilities in the Chilean earthquake of 27 February 2010

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

E. F. CRUZ AND D. VALDIVIA

Figure 30. Mininco (location M). Warehouse building, precast concrete.

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN THE CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE

Copyright 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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