SEISMIC CAPABILITIES OF LOW COST HOUSING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The goal of this investigation was to determine how low cost housing units in South Africa would behave when subjected to a moderate intensity seismic event. To provide insight to this question, it was decided to perform a time history analysis on a sophisticated FE model of a single story low cost housing unit built in the Western Cape South Africa to minimal standards. This analysis entails subjecting the FE model to the maximum probable earthquake that could occur in the Western Cape South Africa.  By doing this, the FE model will be able to illustrate whether collapse has occurred and if not the post simulation condition of the FE model will provide insight into what type of damages were sustained and how well the structure was able to absorb the forces induced by the earthquake. The reason the FE model used in this investigation is considered sophisticate is because of the detail in which it models the behavior of unreinforced masonry. The FE model was developed using a meso-modelling approach, this approach models each of concrete block within the structure separately as well as the mortar bonds between these concrete blocks. The investigation showed that the majority of single story low cost housing units built in the Western Cape South Africa to minimal standards would be able to sustain the largest probable earthquake that it could experience in its lifetime without sustaining any visible damage. Only a small percentage of these structures could experience cracking and possible collapse.