Vulnerability Reduction through Appropriate Building Designs in Kashmir

Abstract

Abstract

Infrastructure development and construction of accommodation (residential and nonresidential) with masonry is the oldest and most common technique used throughout the world. Same is followed in the South East Asian countries including Pakistan. Unreinforced masonry (without use of steel for tensile loadings) can withstand gravity loads well because it has good compressive strength but very low or negligible tensile strength. The tensile strength of a joint made with mortar can be 30 times less than compressive strength of masonry. This low ductility is the reason why its performance is poor against lateral loadings produced by earthquake waves coming from sideways. Pakistan lies in earthquake prone region of the world. The earthquakes of 1935 and 1974 caused havocs across affected areas. However, it was Kashmir earthquake of 2005 which changed the entire orientation of further development in the affected areas. The seismic zones were redefined and a need was felt for better land use planning, siting, orientation and construction methodology for further development. It was observed that nonmonolithic buildings collapsed under self-load as heavy construction materials were used while no ductility/integrity of the structure was assured. This has caused maximum damage to community infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and other industrial/vocational institutes; these were badly hit by the same phenomenon. As the international community intervened on appeal launched by Pakistan government new construction techniques were introduced by stakeholders involved in development process. A more portable and all weather less hazardous/vulnerable construction materials were introduced keeping in view their economic implications for the local community. Steel reinforced concrete block construction for seismic prone areas was already in use in another world. The technique was introduced in affected areas with community participation under relevant stakeholder’s supervision/guidance. The paper focuses on steel reinforced hollow block construction in earthquake vulnerable areas highlighting its benefits on other types of similar construction. Although the subject has been focused previously, but the studies have different context highlighting more of its technical, civil engineering and material related aspects. This paper incorporates socioeconomic, environmental and disaster-related aspects of the construction material. The paper shall serve as a guideline for development with concrete block construction in earthquake prone areas for local community and other stakeholders.

Keywords: Vulnerability, development, reinforced hollow block concrete construction

Cite this Article

Sami A. Vulnerability Reduction Through Appropriate Building Designs in Kashmir. Research & Reviews: Journal of Ecology. 2017; 6(1): 12–16p.