The Behavior of Columns During Earthquakes

The following images are from NOAA’s image collection. For further details on each image, click the PDF at the bottom of the page.

First-story column failure, San Fernando, California (1971)
Spirally-wrapped column failure at Interstate 5/210 interchange, San Fernando, California (1971)
Collapsed column, Interstate 5/210 interchange, San Fernando, California (1971)
Column failure, Holy Cross Hospital, San Fernando, California (1971)
Failure of several columns, Foothills Freeway Overpass, San Fernando, California (1971)
Spirally-wrapped column failure, Esmeraldas, Ecuador (1976)
Imperial County Services Building, El Centro, California (1979)
Damaged columns, Imperial Count Services Building, El Centro, California (1979)
Buckled box column, Mexico City (1985)
Close-up of colum failure at Juarez Hospital, Mexico City (1985)
Failed first-story column, Mexico City (1985)
Shattered columns under Economics Building, San Salvador, El Salvador (1986)
Porch column tipped when house shifted on foundation, Whittier, California (1987)
Collapsed Cypress section of Interstate 880, Loma Prieta, California (1989)
Bases chipped when columns tipped during Loma Prieta, California, earthquake (1989)
Overpass columns damaged in Northridge, California, earthquake (1994)
Parking garage columns damaged in Northridge, California, earthquake (1994)
Splayed column bases, Northridge, California (1994)
Failed bridge support, Northridge, California (1994)
“Short column” effect, Northridge, California (1994)
Geologic Hazards Slides, Volume 1 – The Behavior of ColumnsDownload