Demolition and Collapse Debris Management of Historical Buildings due to Earthquakes

Most of historical buildings around the world have been constructed of different materials depending on their structural configuration, components, use and geo- graphical location. This has led to a great variety of construction materials for the vertical resistant system, slabs and roof. These buildings are extremely vulnerable to suffer strong damage against earthquakes due to different factors regarding geo- metrical configuration and features, materials, total height, use, location, recent re- habilitations, conservation state, etc. This type of buildings may present in case of an earthquake partial or global collapses and generate different types of demolition and collapse debris depending on rehabilitations and damage degree. The main de- bris comes from collapses and demolitions with a variation of construction materials such as mud, masonry elements, mortar, concrete ties that serve to confine the ma- sonry elements, furniture, plastic hoses, piping, dry-walls and garbage. This paper is objected at describing the main typologies of historical constructions that are com- monly located around the world, structural configuration and architectonic features, construction materials, common seismic damage, and interventions, as well as waste management procedures and strategies. These strategies would be of great help for constructors and authorities to follow a better management procedure regarding the debris volume estimation, separation of waste, reuse, and recycling.