RISE-UP Students Analyzed Damages to Costa Sur Power Plant after January 2020 Earthquakes

• Post by: Humberto Cavallin
• October 5, 2021
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As part of the 2020 RISE-UP summer undergraduate research experience course, students Alexander Cruz, Rubén Leoncio, Alexandra González and Javier Sierra, along with their mentor, Dr. Luis E. Suárez, analyzed the damages suffered in the housing of units 1 and 2 of the Costa Sur Power Plant Complex after the January 2020 earthquakes in Peñuelas, PR. The team developed an alternative to rehabilitate frame systems using stronger bracing systems and passive protection systems. Using Viscous Fluid Dampers would allow the power plant to resist seismic accelerations 1.5 times stronger than the ones registered on the 6.4Mw earthquake that occurred on Jan. 7^th, 2020.