Post-earthquake evaluation and repair of welded steel moment-frame buildings

In the wake of a potentially damaging earthquake, every affected welded steel moment-frame building should be assessed to determine whether it poses a safety risk. A straightforward, multi-step process has been developed to streamline this formidable task. This paper provides an overview of this procedure and repair techniques as published in FEMA-352, Recommended Post-earthquake Evaluation and Repair Criteria for Welded Steel Moment-Frame Buildings. The evaluation procedure, developed as part of the SAC Steel Project, begins with screening to rapidly identify those buildings unlikely to have been damaged. Subsequent steps help identify buildings that have sustained sufficient structural damage to compromise future performance and to determine appropriate actions regarding building occupancy and repair.