CIVIL ENGINEERING

Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team

Non Engineered Structures

EEFIT is a group of British earthquake engineers, architects and academics who seek to collaborate with colleagues in earthquake prone countries in the task of improving the seismic resistance of both traditional and engineered structures.

The principle activity of EEFIT is conducting field investigations following major damaging earthquakes, and reporting to the local and international engineering community on the performance of civil engineering and building structures under seismic loading. EEFIT was formed in 1982 as a joint venture between universities and industry and has been carrying out regular investigations of earthquake damage since that date. A preliminary reconnaissance mission is carried out within a few days of an earthquake and detailed survey or follow-up visits are then arranged as appropriate.

Since the formation of EEFIT teams have been sent to earthquakes in:

  • Turkey (1983)
  • North Yemen (1983)
  • Liege, Belgium (1983)
  • Chile (1985)
  • Kalamata, Greece (1986)
  • San Salvador (1986)
  • Loma Prieta, California (1989)
  • Newcastle, Australia (1989)
  • Romania (1990)
  • Iran (1990)
  • Philippines (1990)
  • Erzican (1992)
  • Northridge, California (1994)
  • Kobe, Japan (1995)
  • Umbria-Marche, Italy (1998)
  • Columbia (1999)
  • Kocaeli and Duzce, Turkey (1999)
  • Taiwan (1999)
  • Preliminary mission report of Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) which you can download as a PDF from the EEFIT website.

These investigations have resulted in the creation of a substantial database of structural damage levels, and in significant improvements in our understanding of seismic behaviour. The findings of these investigations have been published as field mission reports. All these reports are all available from the Institution of Structural Engineers

EEFIT has also published two other guidance documents:

  • The Survey of Earthquake Damaged Non Engineering Structure - A Field Guide by EEFIT
  • The Repair and Strengthening Guide for Earthquake Damaged Low-rise Domestic buildings in Gujarat, India, 2001 - A Field Guide by Gujrat Relief Engineering Advice Team (GREAT)
Kocaeli Earthquake Report

The main objectives of the EEFIT missions can be summarised as follows:

  • To carry out a detailed technical evaluation of the performance of structures, foundations, civil engineering works and industrial plant within the affected region.
  • To collect geological and seismographic data, including strong motion records.
  • To assess the effectiveness of earthquake protection methods, including repair and retrofit, and to make comparisons of the actual performance of structures with the expectations of designers.
  • To study disaster management procedures and socio-economic effects of the earthquake, including human casualties.

It is an aim of EEFIT to visit an earthquake zone within about 10 days of a damaging earthquake, when at all possible. It is important to minimise any delay in visiting the damaged area, as contractors progressively demolish damaged buildings and remove the evidence that EEFIT wish to observe.The data collected by EEFIT work contributes to an improved understanding of structural behaviour under seismic loads and an evaluation of the adequacy of current design practices and regulations.

For further information on EEFIT, membership application forms, copies of the "Aims and Methods" and "Constitution" booklet (Free of charge) and the field mission reports, please contact the Secretary of EEFIT, at the Institution of Structural Engineers.