Effects of the January 2010 Haitian Earthquake on Selected Equipment and the Implications for the Seismic Design of Critical Non-Structural Components Required for Post-Earthquake Recovery Operations in Developing Countries

A team of engineers, funded by an NSF RAPID Grant, investigated selected critical electrical equipment, such as switchgear, motor control centers and inverters, at ten sites located in the Port-Au-Prince region that were subjected to strong ground motion during the 12 January 2010 Haiti earthquake. The investigations included a site survey of both damaged and undamaged electrical equipment, and included not only documentation of the physical damage to the equipment, but also consideration of the resulting consequences of the loss of use of the specific equipment and related systems. While the observed damage modes for the selected equipment when subjected to strong ground motion were not unexpected, it was the consequences of the loss (actual or potential) of the use of the damaged equipment that presented important lessons for the investigating team. This paper will detail the observed damage for selected non-structural elements subjected to strong ground motion during the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In addition, the paper will discuss the consequences of the loss of critical equipment at selected facilities in the Port-Au-Prince region and possible implications for the seismic design of critical non-structural components required for post-earthquake recovery operations in developing countries.