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oq-gem

Glossary for gem taxonomy

Authors: Luke Allen, Andrew Charleson, Svetlana Brzev, and Charles Scawthorn

This online Glossary explains around 400 terms contained in the GEM Building Taxonomy v 2.0 and nearly 700 images.

The terms have been listed in alphabetical and numerical order. Text description of each term is accompanied by illustrations (photos and/or drawings) where possible.

We welcome contributions in the form of photographs or images, illustrating glossary terms. If you have any questions you can also contact us at buildingtaxonomy@globalquakemodel.org


A cripple wall is a wall that is less than a full storey high, and it usually occurs between a foundation and the ground floor in a light wood frame building (thus creating a crawl space). These walls are weak because they are typically sheathed with only stucco or horizontal wood siding on the exterior side of the wall. These sheathing materials are inadequate wall-bracing methods. Damage and collapse of older wood frame buildings at the cripple-wall level was observed in past earthquakes.

CRW_FEMA G225_1

Cripple wall and crawl space (FEMA G225)

Collapse of a wood-frame house which slid over the cripple wall, 1983 Coalinga, California earthquake (EERI)

 

Collapse of a wood-frame house which slid over the cripple wall, 1983 Coalinga, California earthquake (EERI Reconnaissance Team)

CRW_USA_NISEE_1

Cripple wall failure in the 1971 San Fernando, California earthquake (Courtesy of K.V. Steinbrugge and the NISEE, University of California, Berkeley)

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