{"paper_id":"41139b21-e7be-40a9-8487-ab361face6c7","body_text":"Pathology of Seismic Deficiencies in Non-Structural Walls and Facades: Lessons from As-Built Practice | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Pathology of Seismic Deficiencies in Non-Structural Walls and Facades: Lessons from As-Built Practice Hamed Keikha This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8793191/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Non-structural elements (NSEs), particularly walls and façades, are among the most vulnerable components of buildings during earthquakes. Although their failure rarely leads to structural collapse, it causes significant economic loss, operational disruption, and life-safety hazards from falling debris. This study presents a pathological assessment of NSE performance based on extensive reconnaissance of buildings damaged in recent Iranian earthquakes. Damage patterns in reinforced concrete, steel, and masonry structures were systematically documented, classified, and compared with national code requirements. The findings reveal recurring and predictable failures: in-plane mechanisms such as diagonal shear cracking, corner crushing, and sliding shear were common, while catastrophic out-of-plane collapses occurred frequently due to inadequate anchorage. Heavy stone façades installed with wet-mortar methods showed widespread detachment, creating severe falling hazards. These deficiencies stem from poor workmanship, weak supervision, and the general neglect of the building envelope as a seismic performance system. The study concludes that NSE vulnerability reflects not a lack of regulation, but a conceptual failure. Despite comprehensive codes, non-compliance and flawed design approaches persist. Closing this gap requires a professional shift that integrates seismic design principles into practice, treating the building envelope as a critical life-safety component rather than a decorative surface. Non-Structural Elements Walls and Façades Seismic Performance Pathological Analysis Damage Patterns Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 13 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 23 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 05 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 05 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 05 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-8793191\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":596045752,\"identity\":\"fd1d88c2-1eff-4991-8927-e1d2b6a2f511\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Hamed Keikha\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAw0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACCQbGZmYGBhsGhgOMDSABHmK1pJGkhYEZqOUwUAuxDpNsb242Lqg5n8d3+3ADw48aBhnzBgJapHkONifPOHa7WPJcYgNjzzEGHhlC1slJJDYf5mG7nbjhDNAvvA0MPBKEHCYn/xCo5d85sBbGv8RokZZgbE7mbTsA1sJMlC2SPYnNxrx9yYkzgVoOyxyTIKxF4vjxx9I83+wS+86wP3z4psbGnqAWFHAAHE+jYBSMglEwCigHAEb7O78eeBeJAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Natural Disaster Research Institute (NDRI)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Hamed\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Keikha\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2026-02-05 06:53:47\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8793191/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8793191/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":104400269,\"identity\":\"ccba3a90-4ac8-4250-a326-3f4a17e97618\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-03-11 12:09:25\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":2219147,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"Manuscript.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8793191/v1_covered_c86fc3b0-d3fe-47c5-96c3-268627c57ecd.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Pathology of Seismic Deficiencies in Non-Structural Walls and Facades: Lessons from As-Built Practice\",\"fulltext\":[],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":false,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":false,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":true,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":true,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"iranian-journal-of-science-and-technology-transactions-of-civil-engineering\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"istc\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering](http://link.springer.com/journal/40996)\",\"snPcode\":\"40996\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40996/3\",\"title\":\"Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Springer Hybrid\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":false},\"keywords\":\"Non-Structural Elements, Walls and Façades, Seismic Performance, Pathological Analysis, Damage Patterns\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8793191/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8793191/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eNon-structural elements (NSEs), particularly walls and façades, are among the most vulnerable components of buildings during earthquakes. Although their failure rarely leads to structural collapse, it causes significant economic loss, operational disruption, and life-safety hazards from falling debris. This study presents a pathological assessment of NSE performance based on extensive reconnaissance of buildings damaged in recent Iranian earthquakes. Damage patterns in reinforced concrete, steel, and masonry structures were systematically documented, classified, and compared with national code requirements. The findings reveal recurring and predictable failures: in-plane mechanisms such as diagonal shear cracking, corner crushing, and sliding shear were common, while catastrophic out-of-plane collapses occurred frequently due to inadequate anchorage. Heavy stone façades installed with wet-mortar methods showed widespread detachment, creating severe falling hazards. These deficiencies stem from poor workmanship, weak supervision, and the general neglect of the building envelope as a seismic performance system. 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