Yesterday CNN reviewed a FEMA report that steel frame buildings,
especially those built prior to 1994, contained a design
flaw that concentrated temblor stresses at weld points between
beams. New designs move stresses into the beams themselves
for increased strength. Apparently this failure mode was
observed in Kobe.

Can anyone point to more in-depth information about this?
If design changes were introduced in 1994, why is this news
now? Have there been analyses of high-rise, steel frame
buildings in LA or San Francisco that indicate they are
more likely to be damaged than was previously thought?
What design changes were introduced?

Thanks,
Mike Price
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