No. 47, May 2000
Desert Architecture for a New Millenium

Zegarra et al.: Typical earthquake damage patterns in adobe houses

In earthquakes, adobe walls initially tend to suffer vertical cracking in the corners where two walls meet (photo left, above). Next, the walls tend to separate entirely from each other (photo right, above). If the damage is severe enough, this can lead to the collapse of the wall and then of the roof.

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