Low-rise building damage from low-amplitude ground motions

Data on offsite low-rise building damage from underground nuclear testing at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Nevada Test Site are available for seven large tests in the period from 1966 to 1970. The data, while sparse, provide an adequate sample for the investigation of motion-damage relationships. Damage in the study is statistically described in terms of the incidence of damage complaints, the incidence of buildings damaged, and damage cost. Using 5 per centdamped response-spectrum acceleration amplitude to characterize ground motion, the plotted data fit reasonably well with previous motion-damage relationships established from extensive data available from the 1969 RULISON underground nuclear explosion experiment conducted in western Colorado.