How to make buildings resistant to earthquakes?

Now in Iran, according to my suggestion, Unilit roof is used in the roofs of residential and office buildings, which is very light. I took this suggestion in an article for the seismological organization in Tehran and gave 14 suggestions to prevent the Tehran earthquake, including 2 They implemented it. One of them removed the bricks from the roof of residential and office buildings and put unilite and poured concrete on top of it, which is very resistant because there is a round rod inside the bits and it was mixed with concrete, and I also said that in metal buildings from 7 or 8 should be used next to the walls because it makes the Masguni houses stronger and also 2 parking spaces should be used under the buildings, like palm trees or dates, which have deep roots and will not fall during an earthquake. Buildings must have deep roots and also in the science of retrofitting structures, divergence is used, that is, natural or artificial rubber is used under the pillars of the houses, and steel springs are used in the middle, so that during an earthquake, the building, like a car or A car that has a spring and the springs play, the building goes up and down but does not fall, and this is a building engineering science that makes buildings resistant to earthquakes and natural disasters. And secondly, through the injection of water and salt solution, the energy of the faults can be removed. Because it comes from the earth's core, which has 6000 degrees Celsius of heat. At any moment, this heat transfers to the surface of the earth. Therefore, the energy inside the earth must be removed, and by transferring the water and salt solution that all the oil extraction companies have, which is known as the injection of water and salt solution, like a tiny needle that is inserted into a balloon so that the balloon does not burst, we humans can create an artificial earthquake. Let's prevent the earthquake explosion and create an artificial earthquake ourselves and release the pressure inside the earth. And 3, we should not build residential or office buildings where there is a fault line, because the buildings are heavy and the taller and bigger they are, the more pressure is placed on the faults. So either we have to build a single floor or not at all to prevent an earthquake from happening.

Wisam Fawzi added an answer

I saw that this technique is used in most Iranian structures and my personal opinion is a successful technique.

László Attila Horváth added a reply

Did you used technics of Ioannis Lymperis ?

László Attila Horváth added a reply

Did you used technics of Ioannis Lymperis ?

Ioannis Lymperis added a reply

The Ultimate Anti-Seismic Design Method

The design mechanisms and methods of the invention are intended to minimize problems related to the safety of structures in the event of natural phenomena such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and strong winds. It is achieved by controlling the deformations of the structure. Damage and deformation are closely related concepts since the control of deformations also controls the damage. The design method of applying artificial compression to the ends of all longitudinal reinforced concrete walls and, at the same time, connecting the ends of the walls to the ground using ground anchors placed at the depths of the boreholes, transfers the inertial stresses of the structure in the ground, which reacts as an external force in the structure’s response to seismic displacements. The wall with the artificial compression acquires dynamic, larger active cross-section and high axial and torsional stiffness, preventing all failures caused by inelastic deformation. By connecting the ends of all walls to the ground, we control the eigenfrequency of the structure and the ground during each seismic loading cycle, preventing inelastic displacements. At the same time, we ensure the strong bearing capacity of the foundation soil and the structure. By designing the walls correctly and placing them in proper locations, we prevent the torsional flexural buckling that occurs in asymmetrical floor plans, and metal and tall structures. Compression of the wall sections at the ends and their anchoring to the ground mitigates the transfer of deformations to the connection nodes, strengthens the wall section in terms of base shear force and shear stress of the sections, and increases the strength of the cross-sections to the tensile at the ends of the walls by introducing counteractive forces. The use of tendons within the ducts prevents longitudinal shear in the overlay concrete, while anchoring the walls to the foundation not only dissipates inertial forces to the ground but also prevents rotation of the walls, thus maintaining the structural integrity of the beams. The prestressing at the bilateral ends of the walls restores the structure to its original position even inelastic displacements by closing the opening of the developing cracks.

Article The Ultimate Anti-Seismic Design Method

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Miguel Angel Morales added a reply

July 9

There are two ways to achieve it. To start, we can make buildings more ductile, that is, they can withstand stronger deformations without failing; On the other hand, we can design more rigid structures, which implies that the buildings resist greater accelerations.

These systems consist of elements for energy dissipation or assimilation. The first type of system seeks to increase the capacity to "lose" energy, such as the "Saint Andrew's Cross" trusses, and others work as seismic dampers or isolators.

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Khawaja Muhammad Iftikhar added a reply

July 25

Abbas Kashani

Miguel Angel Morales

To make buildings resistant to earthquakes, it is essential to incorporate various engineering principles and design practices. Here are the key steps and considerations in detail:

1. Site Selection and Soil Analysis

• Site Selection: Choose a site with stable ground, avoiding areas prone to liquefaction, landslides, or fault lines.
• Geotechnical Analysis: Conduct thorough soil investigations to understand the soil properties and behavior under seismic loads. This includes soil borings, lab tests, and evaluating soil-structure interaction.

2. Building Design

• Seismic Codes and Standards: Adhere to local and international building codes (e.g., IBC, Eurocode, IS Codes) that specify seismic design requirements.
• Structural Configuration: Opt for simple, regular, and symmetric building shapes to ensure even distribution of seismic forces.
• Redundancy and Robustness: Design for multiple load paths so that if one path fails, others can carry the load.
• Foundation Design: Use deep foundations like piles or caissons in soft soils to reach stable strata. Consider mat foundations for better distribution of seismic forces.

3. Structural Elements

• Base Isolation: Install base isolators to decouple the building from ground motion, reducing seismic forces transmitted to the structure.
• Energy Dissipation Devices: Use dampers (viscous, friction, or tuned mass dampers) to absorb and dissipate seismic energy.
• Flexible Joints: Incorporate expansion joints to allow sections of the building to move independently, reducing stress concentrations.
• Shear Walls and Bracing: Use reinforced concrete shear walls or steel bracing systems to resist lateral forces.
• Moment-Resisting Frames: Design frames that can withstand bending moments and shear forces during an earthquake.

4. Materials and Construction Quality

• High-Quality Materials: Use materials with appropriate strength, ductility, and durability. Reinforced concrete, structural steel, and composite materials are commonly used.
• Reinforcement Detailing: Ensure proper detailing of reinforcement bars in concrete to prevent brittle failure and enhance ductility.
• Construction Practices: Follow best practices and quality control during construction to avoid defects and ensure the building performs as designed.

5. Retrofitting Existing Buildings

• Seismic Assessment: Evaluate the seismic vulnerability of existing buildings using detailed analysis and field surveys.
• Strengthening Techniques: Employ techniques such as adding shear walls, bracing, jacketing columns, and using fiber-reinforced polymers to enhance the seismic resistance of existing structures.

6. Innovation and Technology

• Advanced Simulation Tools: Use computer modeling and simulation tools to predict building behavior under seismic loads and optimize designs.
• Smart Materials: Incorporate materials with adaptive properties, such as shape memory alloys, which can absorb and dissipate energy efficiently.

7. Community and Lifeline Considerations

• Building Codes Enforcement: Ensure strict enforcement of building codes and regulations.
• Public Awareness: Educate the public and stakeholders about the importance of seismic-resistant design and construction.
• Lifeline Infrastructure: Design critical infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, emergency response centers) to higher seismic standards to ensure functionality after an earthquake.

By integrating these principles and practices, engineers can significantly enhance the earthquake resistance of buildings, thereby reducing the risk of damage and loss of life during seismic events.

Sebastian Schmitt added a reply

20 minutes ago

Khawaja Muhammad Iftikhar, do you really think that a random, AI-generated answer is helpful for Abbas?

Lee Clawson added a reply

4 hours ago

Abbas Kashani Abbas, There’s many conversations about the topic inside ResearchGate. Use this search;

https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?query=make+buildings+earthquake+proof&type=publication

While I understand you may not have full internet access; I’m sending links to other sources of information;

1__ UNDRR Prevention Web

https://www.preventionweb.net/news/how-we-can-make-buildings-earthquake-proof

2__ Retro-Fit Foundations

https://www.bayarearetrofit.com/PDFs/Bolting.pdf

3__ Scientific America; “How to Engineer Buildings That Withstand Earthquakes”

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-engineer-buildings-that-withstand-earthquakes/

4__ G3 SoilWorks - “How do scientists make earthquake-proof buildings?”

https://g3soilworks.com/2021/03/12/how-do-scientists-make-earthquake-proof-buildings/

5__ IEEE Public Safety - Earthquake-Resistant Building Technology

https://publicsafety.ieee.org/topics/earthquake-resistant-building-technology

6__ Builder Trend - earthquake-proof buildings: Features, designs & materials

https://buildertrend.com/blog/extreme-building-earthquakes/

7__ REID Steel - Resilient Steel Structures

https://www.reidsteel.com/steel-buildings/resilient-steel-structures/earthquake-resistant-building/

8__ BigRentz Blog- Earthquake-Proof Buildings in 2024

https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/earthquake-proof-buildings?srsltid=AfmBOorN1MVjyAsmNrV6CjyU1SO4mqQbFqdW64zF7c_QV1MTHAfmQRZe

9__ Earthquake-Resistant Design Concepts prepared for FEMA (US federal emergency management agency) by the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (2010)

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_earthquake-resistant-design-concepts_p-749.pdf

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BigRentz › Think Big Blog › How Earthquake-Proof Buildings Are Designed in 2024

ConstructionHow Earthquake-Proof Buildings Are Designed in 2024 By: BigRentz on October 16, 2023📷

Architects and engineers design earthquake-proof buildings through flexible foundations, damping, vibration deflection technology, shear walls, cross braces, diaphragms and moment-resisting frames. These innovations are essential for ensuring maximum stability and safety for the patrons of such buildings.Throughout history, we’ve built impressive structures and cities, only for them to succumb to the forces of nature. Earthquakes are one of the Earth’s most destructive forces — seismic waves throughout the ground can destroy buildings, take lives and cost tremendous amounts of money for loss and repair.According to the National Earthquake Information Center, there are an average of 20,000 earthquakes each year —16 of them being major disasters. On August 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the southwest region of Haiti and killed over 2,000 people. As with other earthquakes, much of the damage was caused by buildings collapsing with people inside them.Unfortunately, earthquakes like this can happen at any moment in earthquake-prone regions — making earthquake-proof buildings essential all over the world.Over the past few decades, engineers have introduced new designs and building materials to better equip buildings to withstand earthquakes. Read on or skip to the infographic below to learn how earthquake-proof buildings are designed today.Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow Earthquakes Impact Buildings 4 Methods for Constructing Earthquake-Proof Buildings Earthquake-Resistant Materials Earthquake-Proof Buildings FAQ Great Construction Starts With Great Equipment How Earthquakes Impact Buildings Before we look at the features of earthquake-proof buildings, it’s important to understand how earthquakes impact human-made structures. When an earthquake occurs, it sends shock waves throughout the ground in short, rapid intervals that extend in all directions. While buildings are generally equipped to handle vertical forces from their weight and gravity, they cannot traditionally handle side-to-side forces emitted by quakes. This horizontal movement vibrates walls, floors, columns, beams and the braces that hold them together. The difference in movement between the bottom and top of buildings exerts extreme stress, causing the supporting frame to rupture and the structure to eventually collapse.4 Methods for Constructing Earthquake-Proof Buildings To design an earthquake-proof building, engineers work to reinforce the structure and counteract a potential earthquake’s forces. Since earthquakes release energy that pushes on buildings from one direction, the strategy involves having the building push the opposite way. Here are some of the methods used to help buildings withstand earthquakes.1. Create a Flexible Foundation One way to resist ground forces is to “lift” the building’s foundation above the earth through a method called base isolation. Base isolation involves constructing a building on top of flexible steel, rubber and lead pads. When the base moves during an earthquake, the isolators vibrate while the structure remains steady. This effectively helps to absorb seismic waves and prevent them from traveling through the building.2. Counter Forces with Damping If you’re familiar with shock absorbers used in cars, you might be surprised to learn that engineers also use a version of them in earthquake-resistant buildings. Similar to their use in cars, shock absorbers reduce the shockwaves’ magnitude and help reduce pressure on the building. They accomplish this in two ways: vibrational control devices and pendulum power.Vibrational Control Devices This method involves placing dampers at each level of a building between columns and beams. Each damper consists of piston heads inside a cylinder filled with silicone oil. When an earthquake occurs, the building transfers the vibrational energy into the pistons, which push against the oil. The energy is then transformed into heat, dissipating the force of the vibrations.Pendulum Power Another common damping method is pendulum power, used primarily in skyscrapers. To implement this, engineers suspend a large ball from steel cables that connect to a hydraulic system at the top of the building. When the building begins to sway, the ball acts as a pendulum and moves in the opposite direction to stabilize the building. Like damping, these features are tuned to match and counteract the building’s movement in the event of an earthquake.3. Shield Buildings from Vibrations Rather than just counteracting forces, researchers are experimenting with ways buildings can deflect and reroute the energy from earthquakes altogether. Dubbed the “seismic invisibility cloak,” this innovation involves creating a cloak of 100 concentric plastic and concrete rings and burying it at least 3 feet beneath the foundation of the building. As seismic waves enter the rings, ease of travel forces them to move through to the outer rings. As a result, they are essentially channeled away from the building and dissipated into the ground.4. Reinforce the Building’s Structure To withstand collapse, buildings must redistribute forces that travel through them during a seismic event.Shear walls, cross braces, diaphragms and moment-resisting frames are central to reinforcing a building.Shear walls are a useful building technology that can help transfer earthquake forces. Made of multiple panels, these walls help a building keep its shape during movement. Shear walls are often supported by diagonal cross braces made of steel. These beams can support compression and tension, helping to counteract pressure and push forces. Cross braces attach to a building’s frame by bracing stud to stud in an X pattern to increase load capacity. The use of cross-bracing keeps buildings stable against high winds and seismic activity. Diaphragms are also a central part of a building’s structure. Consisting of the building’s floors, roof and the decks placed over them, diaphragms help remove tension from the floor and push forces to the building’s vertical structures. Moment-resisting frames provide additional flexibility in a building’s design. These structures are placed among a building’s joints and allow columns and beams to bend while the joints remain rigid. Thus, the building can resist the larger forces of an earthquake while still allowing designers the freedom to arrange building elements. Earthquake-Resistant Materials While shock absorbers, pendulums and “invisibility cloaks” may help dispel the energy to an extent, the materials chosen for a building are equally responsible for its stability.Steel and Timber For a material to resist stress and vibration, it must have high ductility, which is the ability to undergo large deformations and tension. Modern buildings are often constructed with structural steel, a component that comes in a variety of shapes and allows buildings to bend without breaking.Timber is also a surprisingly ductile material due to its high strength relative to its lightweight structure.Innovative Materials Scientists and engineers are developing new building materials with even greater shape retention.These innovative materials include:Shape memory alloys can both endure heavy strain and revert to their original shape. Fiber-reinforced plastic wrap — made from a variety of polymers — can be wrapped around columns and provide up to 38% added strength and ductility. Engineers are also turning to sustainable building materials to help reinforce buildings. The sticky yet rigid fibers of mussels and the strength-to-size ratio of spider silk have promising capabilities in creating structures. Bamboo and 3D printed materials can also function as lightweight, interlocking structures with limitless forms that can potentially provide even greater resistance for buildings.Earthquake-Proof Buildings FAQ Buildings and earthquakes don’t seem to be a likely pair. Even if you understand the methods used to create an earthquake-proof building, you may have further questions.Let’s review some frequently asked questions about earthquake-resistant buildings.What Is the Safest Type of Building for an Earthquake? According to Exploratorium, a taller structure is safer than a stiffer, shorter building. Flexibility is essential during the shaking associated with an earthquake, and often, the taller the building, the more flexible it is. In fact, engineers must design shorter buildings in earthquake-prone areas to withstand even greater forces than those of a taller building.Of course, it’s important to account for the materials that are used in the building to determine how well it can withstand earthquakes. Timber, steel and reinforced concrete are the most popular materials used in earthquake-proof buildings.Can US Buildings Withstand Earthquakes? The United States is a large land mass and is only prone to earthquakes in certain regions. Instead of constructing every building in the United States to be earthquake-proof, builders often design each structure based on the location’s seismic risks.For example, a building in San Francisco, California (which sits upon the San Andreas Fault) will have to withstand much larger earthquakes than another building in Miami, Florida, where earthquakes are small and infrequent.What Are Some Examples of Earthquake-Proof Buildings? There are earthquake-proof buildings all over the world. Some of these incredible buildings are massive skyscrapers that tower over their city’s skyline, and others are shorter buildings such as airports, arenas and state capitol buildings in earthquake-prone areas.Here are 10 earthquake-proof buildings across the world:Taipei 101 — Taipei, Taiwan The Transamerica Pyramid — San Francisco, California New Wilshire Grand Center — Los Angeles, California Sabiha Gökçen International Airport — Istanbul, Turkey Philippine Arena — Santa Maria, Philippines Utah State Capitol Building — Salt Lake City, Utah Burj Khalifa Bin Zayed — Dubai, United Arab Emirates The Yokohama Landmark Tower — Yokohama, Japan U.S. Bank Tower — Los Angeles, California One Rincon Hill South Tower — San Francisco, California Great Construction Starts With Great Equipment Over the years, engineers and scientists have devised multiple techniques to create effective earthquake-proof buildings. However, as advanced as technology and materials are today, it is not always possible for buildings to completely withstand powerful earthquakes unscathed. Still, if a building can avoid collapse and save lives and communities, we can consider that a great success.No matter what kind of construction project you’re starting, BigRentz has all the heavy equipment you need to ensure you get the job done. From large commercial construction to residential projects, rental construction equipment is available for every job in all 50 states. From materials handling to earthmoving machines, BigRentz has it all.Check out everything we have to cover by browsing through our available equipment rentals today!📷Sources: How Stuff Works 1, 2 | REIDsteel | Rishabh Engineering | Seeker | Futurism | VIATechnik | Interesting Engineering | Architizer | kcFED | National Geographic