Performance of masonry structures during the 1994 Northridge (Los Angeles) earthquake

The paper first reviews the evolution of building code requirements for unreinforced masonry buildings up to the seismic retrofit ordinances enacted prior to this earthquake. Examples of various damage types are then presented, along with technically substantiated descriptions of the causes for this damage, and cross-references to relevant clauses with Canadian standards and codes, as well as the recently published Canadian Guidelines for the Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings. -from Author