Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Erik Sohn, Senior AssociateWiss, Janney, Elstner AssociatesWashington, DC
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
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Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
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Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Learning Objectives• What Initial Steps Are Critical to Perform on a
Monumental Structure Following a Natural Disaster
• What Items Are Important to Review During the Initial Assessment
• What Types of Access Are Available, Appropriate, and Potentially Warranted for Unique and Historically Significant Structures
• How to Best Assist an Owner of an Irreplaceable Building Asset with Recovery From a Natural Disaster
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Date: August 23, 2011
Approximate Time: 1:51 PM EDT
Magnitude: 5.8Mw
Location: Mineral, VA (Approx. 4 miles southwest)
95 miles southwest of Washington, DC
Depth Below Surface:
3.7 miles
Seismic Event
The USGS is now reporting that this event was the most widely-felt earthquake in U.S. history…
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Overall Height:555ft 5-
1/8in
Height to Pyramidion: 500 ft
Width at Base: 55.6 ft
Width at Pyramidion: 34.5 ft
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Make Safe Operations
Interior Remove Debris From Above
Observation Level Close-Range Survey
Exterior NPS Established Safe
Boundary with Fence and Police/Security
Close-Range Survey/Debris Loose Material Removal
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Visual survey of exterior building elements
Identifying and removing unstable elements
Access overall extent of damage resulting from earthquake
Survey/Documentation of Seismic Damage
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior and Interior
Spalls and Incipient Spalls Cracks Displaced Stones Loose Mortar
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior and Interior
Spalls and Incipient Spalls Cracks Displaced Stones Loose Mortar
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Application of Sealant from Interior into Large Cracks and Joints Where Daylight was Visible
Preparation for Hurricane Irene
The Washington Monument
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Overall Length: 517ft
Width of Nave: 142 ft
Height of Nave: 102 ft
Central Tower Height: 301 ft
West Towers Height: 234 ft
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Make Safe Operations
Interior Debris Netting System Close-Range Survey
Exterior Chain Link Fence
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Visual survey of exterior building elements
Identifying unstable elements Access overall extent of damage
resulting from earthquake
Survey/Documentation of Seismic Damage
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Pedestrian tunnels Develop an emergency
routing plan Install debris netting
and working platform around Central Tower
Preparation for 9/11 Ceremony
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
Weather-in the roof above the Sanctuary Overcroft
Stabilize intermediate pinnacles at perimeter walls
Preparation for Hurricane Irene
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Critical Events and Activities
DAT of Central and West Towers
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Ongoing Efforts
Dismantling of Central and West Tower Turrets and Pinnacles
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Bond line failures Isolated locations of
unstable mortar Step cracks Limestone spalls Cracks in boss
stone, ribs, and ceiling interface
Loss of mortar
Interior
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Northwest Entrance Roof Damage to metal roof and stone
parapet from finial
Exterior
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior
Nave Pinnacle damage
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior
North Transept Damage to metal roof from finial
and pinnacles Pinnacle damage
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior
South Transept Damage to metal roof
from stones Pinnacle damage Turret damage Gargoyle head severed
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
ExteriorChoir/Sanctuary Damage to metal roof from
stones Pinnacle damage Spalls at parapets
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
ExteriorApse Damage to buttresses Pinnacle damage Spalls at parapets
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior
West Towers Missing finial Pinnacle damage
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Distress
Exterior
Central Towers Roof damage Pinnacle damage
The Washington National Cathedral
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral www.wje.com
Erik Sohn Senior AssociateWashington, DC
Seismic Assessment of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral
Questions?
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