Tips on constructing an earthquake resistant building

Throughout history we have seen some long-standing structures that are still an architectural marvel and a mystery, how these structures continue to stand tall after centuries of facing natural disasters and time. It makes one wonder on how to build structures that can withstand earthquakes and take in less damage.

In these modern times with technological advancements, we have found ways to strengthen the buildings that can hold against seismic activities. Let’s see some of the ways to build earthquake proof buildings

Flexible foundation

Seismic waves travel through the ground and thus it can wreak havoc to anything above the ground connected to the ground. One way is to lift the building foundation above the ground. By doing this we are isolating the base of the building from the foundation, and the foundation is made flexible with the help of steel, rubber and lead. Thus, when the earthquake hits, the foundation alone vibrates and the building remains unaffected.

Damping

Engineers employ shock absorbers to design earthquake-resistant structures. Shock absorbers, like those found in cars, assist buildings by reducing the amplitude of shockwaves. Vibrational control devices and pendulum dampers are two methods for accomplishing this.

Vibrational Control Devices

The first approach includes installing dampers between a column and a beam at each level of a building. Each damper is made up of piston heads housed in a silicone oil-filled cylinder. When an earthquake strikes, the building's seismic energy is transferred to the pistons, which push against the oil. The vibrations' force is dissipated as the energy is converted to heat.

Pendulum Power

Pendulum power, which is typically employed in skyscrapers, is another dampening method. Engineers use steel cables and a hydraulic system to suspend a big ball at the top of the skyscraper. The ball serves as a pendulum and moves in the opposite direction when the building begins to sway, stabilising the direction. These elements, like damping, are calibrated to match and counteract the frequency of the building in the case of an earthquake.

Re-routing vibrations

Rather than simply counteracting forces, researchers are testing techniques for buildings to divert and reroute energy from earthquakes entirely. This concept, dubbed the "seismic invisibility cloak," entails constructing a cloak of 100 concentric plastic and concrete rings and burying it at least three feet beneath the building's foundation.

As seismic waves penetrate the rings, they are forced to shift to the outer rings, where they may travel more easily. As a result, they are effectively diverted away from the structure and dissipated into the ground plates.

Reinforcing structure

Buildings must redistribute the forces that pass through them during a seismic event to avoid collapsing. Reinforcing a structure requires the use of shear walls, cross braces, diaphragms, and moment-resisting frames.

Shear walls are a valuable construction technique for transferring earthquake forces. These walls, which are made of panels, allow a building to maintain its shape during movement. Diagonal cross bracing is frequently used to support shear walls. These steel beams can support compression and tension, which helps to relieve pressure and redirect forces back to the foundation.

Diaphragms are an important feature of the structure of a building. Diaphragms help release tension from the floor and push force to the building's vertical structures. They are made up of the building's floors, roof, and decks placed over them.

Moment-resisting frames provide for more design flexibility in the construction of a structure. This framework is installed between the building's joints and allows the columns and beams to flex while the joints remain stiff. As a result, the structure can withstand the greater forces of an earthquake while also giving designers more flexibility in how they arrange the building's elements.

Using Earthquake resistant materials

High ductility — the capacity to withstand massive deformations and tension — is required for a building material to resist stress and vibration. Structural steel, a type of steel that comes in a variety of shapes and allows buildings to bend without breaking, is commonly used in modern construction. Due to its tremendous strength relative to its lightweight structure, wood is also surprisingly a ductile material. Using the earthquake resistant tmt steel bars increase the structural strength and thus allowing the building might remain standing during small seismic activities.

Natural components are also being used by engineers. Mussels' sticky yet inflexible fibres, as well as spider silk's strength-to-size ratio, show promise for building structures. Bamboo and 3D printed materials can also be used to create lightweight, interlocking structures with virtually unlimited configurations that could provide even more construction resilience.

Engineers and scientists have developed strategies to design earthquake-resistant structures over time. Even with today's modern technology and materials, it is still not possible for a building to totally resist a major earthquake.

Still, we can consider a structure a success if it allows its residents to evacuate without collapse and saves lives and communities.

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