The Impact of Vrancea March 4, 1977 Earthquake on the Built Environment of Craiova

Abstract Considering the adverse effects of 1977 Vrancea earthquake in Craiova, in addition to the old single-family residential buildings that suffered significant damage, newly built collective housing blocks constructed between 1960 and 1975 also showed major structural issues. A total of 69 buildings comprising 121 sections were identified. Fortunately, no collective residential buildings collapsed. Craiova had the highest number of large residential buildings damaged after Bucharest. Craiova was not considered a seismic zone according to the 1963 seismic zoning code, and therefore the structural requirements and seismic design regulations were not incorporated into the design of its buildings. This changed in 1978 due to the new seismic design code enforced at that time, when the structural systems made of masonry walls were replaced by large prefabricated panels in residential buildings with a height regime of ground floor plus four stories (GF+4S). Unfortunately, for the buildings damaged by the March 4, 1977 earthquake, only partial repair and retrofitting works were carried out.