Analysis of the Structural Health Response of Beirut Port Silos Under Seismic Loading

The analysis of the structural health response of the Beirut port silos, two years after August 4, 2020 explosion, is presented in this chapter. This work evaluates the structural response of the remaining standing silos caused by the blast loading using 3D laser scan measurements, performed every couple of months, and live monitoring of the silos’ tilt changes carried out using four ultraprecise triaxial inclinometers installed in strategic locations on the North and South silos’ blocks. The tilted silos are then modelled using Abaqus to test the status of the silos under different earthquake loadings. Therefore, the objective of the performed study is not only to assess and monitor the real condition of the remaining standing silos, but also to check their status and prevent their catastrophic failure under seismic conditions. The results indicate that till March 2022; the North block silos have been rotating vertically by a rate of 0.85 mm/day since the day of the explosion while the South block got stabilized. This rate varies with bad weather and sharp changes in temperature. Moreover, the triaxial inclinometers’ results indicate that the displacements of the monitored silos have increased in the last couple of months to reach 45 cm on silo#84 in July 2022. The obtained results show that the remaining standing silos will exhibit serious damage and possible failure in case of moderate intensity earthquakes.