Seismic Design and Construction of Precast Concrete Buildings in New Zealand

Robert Park

Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Since the early in 1960s in New Zealand, there has been a steady increase in the use of precast concrete for structural components in buildings. The use of precast concrete in flooring systems has become commonplace since the 1960s, leaving cast-in-place floor construction generally uncommon. Also, precast concrete non-structural cladding for buildings has been widely used.

During the boom years of building construction in New Zealand, in the mid-to late 1980s, there was also a significant increase in the use of precast concrete in moment resisting frames and structural walls. This came about because the incorporation of precast concrete elements has the advantages of high quality control, a reduction in site formwork and site labor, and increased speed of construction. In particular, with high interest rates and demand for new building space in New Zealand in the mid 1980s, the advantage of speed gave precast concrete a distinct edge in cost.

Contractors readily adapted to precast concrete and the new construction techniques resulting from on and off-site fabrication of building components. Also, the availability of tall, high capacity cranes and other equipment have made precast erection more efficient.

New Zealand is in a zone of high to moderate earthquake activity and the use of precast concrete in seismic regions requires special provisions for design and construction. It is of interest that moment resisting frames and structural walls incorporating precast concrete elements have been observed in some countries to perform poorly in earthquakes.

References

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Park, R., and Bull, D. K., “Seismic Resistance of Frames Incorporating Precast Prestressed Concrete Beam Shells,” PCI JOURNAL, V.‑31, No. 4, July-August 1986, pp. 54-93.

Restrepo, J. I., and Park, R., “Review of Tilt-Up Construction Details,” Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference of New Zealand Concrete Society, Auckland, October 1993, pp. 38-43.

Restrepo, J. I., Park, R., and Buchanan, A. H., “Design of Connections of Earthquake Resisting Precast Reinforced Concrete Perimeter Frames of Buildings,” PCI JOURNAL, V. 40, No. 5, September-October 1995, pp. 68-77.

Restrepo, J. I., Crisafulli, F., and Park, R., “Earthquake Resistance of Structures: The Design and Construction of Tilt-Up Reinforced Concrete Buildings,” Research Report 96-11, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, September 1996.

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Crisafulli, F. J., Restrepo, J. I., and Park, R., “Seismic Design of Lightly Reinforced Precast Concrete Rectangular Wall Panels,” PCI JOURNAL, V. 47, No. 4, July-August 2002, pp. 104-121.

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Park, R., and Paulay, T., Reinforced Concrete Structures, John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY, 1975, 769 pp.

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Park, R., “Ductile Design Approach for Reinforced Concrete Frames,” “Earthquake Spectra,” Professional Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, V. 2, No. 3, May 1986, pp. 565-619.

Park, R., Paulay, T., and Bull, D. K., “Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures,” Technical Report No. 20, New Zealand Concrete Society, October 1997.

Restrepo, J. I., Park, R., and Buchanan, A. H., “Tests on Connections of Earthquake Resisting Precast Reinforced Concrete Perimeter Frames of Buildings,” PCI JOURNAL, V. 40, No. 4, July-August 1995, pp. 44-61.

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Herlihy, M. D., and Park, R., “Detailing Precast Flooring Systems to Survive Loss of Support,” Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference of the New Zealand Concrete Society, October 1996, pp. 130-139.

Mejia, J. C., and Park, R., “Tests on Special Reinforcement for the End Support of Hollow-Core Slabs,” PCI JOURNAL, V. 39, No.‑5, September-October 1994, pp. 90-105.

Park, R., “Seismic Design Considerations for Precast Concrete Construction in Seismic Zones,” Seminar on Precast Concrete Construction in Seismic Zones, V.‑1, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science – United States National Science Foundation, Tokyo, Japan, 1986, pp. 1-38.

Park, R., “A Perspective on the Seismic Design of Precast Concrete Structures in New Zealand,” PCI JOURNAL, V. 40, No. 3, May-June 1995, pp. 40-60.

Park, R., “Precast Concrete in Seismic Resisting Building Frames in New Zealand,” Concrete International, V. 12, No. 11, November 1990, pp. 43-51.