Available online
Description
The programme looks at the interaction between earthquakes and technological research.
The programme looks at the interaction between earthquakes and technological research.
| Module code and title: | TD342, Systems performance: human factors and systems failures |
|---|---|
| Item code: | TD342; 11 |
| First transmission date: | 01-08-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:20:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | John Groom |
| Contributors: | Ray Clough; Henry Degenkolb |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Building codes; Chinatown; Earthquake research; Earthquake resistant buildings; Freeway bridges; San Fernando earthquake 1971; Seismology; Structural engineering |
| Footage description: | Over shots of the aftermath of the February 1971 earthquake in the San Fernando Valley, Geoff Peters introduces the programme. Professor Ray Clough (University of California Berkeley) and Geoff Peters explain how the learning process is aided by installing seismological instruments in new buildings during their construction. Peters particularly points to the Kajima Building in Los Angeles which has been instrumented since it was built. A computer animation simulates the movement of the building during an earthouake. Professor William Godden (University of California, Berkeley) and Geoff Peters discuss research being done in California on designing earthouake resistant bridges. Shots of several highway interchange bridges in the San Fernando Valley. Shots of experiments on concrete structures being carried out on large shaking tables which simulate the conditions encountered by a concrete bridge during an earthquake. Godden and Peters point out the areas of failure. Geoff Peters and Jim Gates (California Highway engineer) explain how data is collected from actual bridges by placing instruments at various points on the structure. Shots of highway bridges showing the mounted instruments. Geoff Peters interviews Henry Degenkolb (Structural Engineer) who explains what can be learned from buildings which survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He points out the principles on which they were built and how these could be adopted in modern buildings, Still shots of the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake and shots of San Francisco today accompany the interview. As the discussion moves on to examine reasons, both economic and social, for the difficulties encountered in constructing earthquake resistant buildings. Shots of San Francisco's Chinatown. Geoff Peters, Ray Clough and Henry Degenkolb each present their points of view. Peters, Eugene Haas and Henry Degenkolb examine the use of building codes to improve safety during an earthquake. They discuss both the pros and cons, Haas and Peters sum up by discussing, very briefly, some of the political pressures which bear on safety design. Credits (over aerial shots of San Francisco). |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72278 |
| Production number: | 00525_5245 |
| Videofinder number: | 3586 |
| Available to public: | no |
