Building Resilience: How to Make Earthquake-Resistant Buildings

Brief 

Learn how earthquake-prone countries like Chile and Japan have implemented strict building codes and innovative technology to create buildings that can withstand earthquakes, reducing loss of life and property damage. Discover the benefits of quake-resistant buildings and why they are essential in the face of increasing natural disasters.

 

 

Insight

Chile and Japan, both earthquake-prone countries, have put in place strict building codes to ensure that structures can withstand earthquakes.

The building codes require the use of flexible steel skeletons or rebar to prevent concrete from cracking, as well as base isolation systems that separate buildings from their foundations using springs or runners. These measures have helped to minimize loss of life and property damage during earthquakes.

By retrofitting older structures and implementing strict building codes, both countries have been able to ensure that buildings are equipped to withstand earthquakes.The US Resiliency Council notes that building damage is the leading cause of death, injury, and property loss during earthquakes.

Ensuring that buildings can withstand earthquakes is therefore essential to prevent loss of life, reduce economic consequences, and benefit the environment. While natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires are significant risks facing the world, there is no clear link between climate change and earthquakes, according to experts.

In 2023, Turkey faced costs of up to $85 billion following an earthquake, with over $70 billion needed for home repairs. Building resilient structures can help to mitigate such costs and ensure the safety of occupants during natural disasters.

 

Highlight

• The building codes require the use of flexible steel skeletons or rebar to prevent concrete from cracking, as well as base isolation systems that separate buildings from their foundations using springs or runners.
• By retrofitting older structures and implementing strict building codes, both countries have been able to ensure that buildings are equipped to withstand earthquakes.

 

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Related Questions:

• What is the best way to build an earthquake resistant building?

• What building material is most resistant to earthquakes?

• How does Japan make their buildings earthquake proof?

• What is earthquake resistant structure model?

 

 

Related Standards:

• ACI

• ICC

• EN

 

 

Realated Refrences:

• AISC

• ASCE

• ICE

• FIMA

• MPDI

 

 

Related Challenges:

1. Variability of earthquake ground motions
2. Cost of earthquake-resistant construction
3. Complexity of building design and engineering
4. Difficulty in retrofitting existing buildings
5. Limited availability of earthquake-resistant building materials
6. Balancing seismic safety with other design considerations, such as aesthetics and functionality
7. Lack of standardized building codes and regulations in some regions
8. Lack of public awareness and education about earthquake-resistant building design and construction
9. The need for ongoing maintenance and monitoring of earthquake-resistant buildings to ensure their continued safety and effectiveness
10. Limited resources and funding for earthquake-resistant construction and retrofitting projects in some regions.

 

 

Related Case Studies:

 

1. Taipei 101, Taiwan

Taipei 101 is a 101-story skyscraper located in Taipei, Taiwan, and is known for its iconic design. It was built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, with a foundation that can resist up to 7.0 magnitude earthquakes. In 2021, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan, and Taipei 101 remained stable during the shaking. The building’s tuned mass damper, a large pendulum that counteracts the movement caused by earthquakes, helped to prevent damage to the structure.

 

2. San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, USA

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is a suspension bridge located in California, USA. It was built to withstand earthquakes, with a design that allows it to sway and bend during seismic events. In 2014, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the region, and the Bay Bridge remained standing during the shaking. The bridge’s use of earthquake-resistant materials, such as steel and concrete, and its innovative hinge-pipe beam connection helped to prevent damage to the structure.

 

3. Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Burj Khalifa is a 163-story skyscraper located in Dubai, UAE, and is the tallest building in the world. It was designed to withstand earthquakes, with a foundation that can resist up to 8.0 magnitude earthquakes. In 2021, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit the region, and Burj Khalifa remained stable during the shaking. The building’s reinforced concrete core and steel frame, as well as its innovative wind engineering system, helped to prevent damage to the structure.

 

4. Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct, New Zealand

The Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct is a government building located in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was built to withstand earthquakes, with a foundation that can resist up to 8.0 magnitude earthquakes. In 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the region, and the Precinct remained standing during the shaking. The building’s use of base isolation technology, which allows the building to move with the earthquake rather than against it, helped to prevent damage to the structure.