According to Newton’s third law, every action is always met with an equal and opposite reaction. When a building exerts a vertical force on the ground (action), the ground, in turn, exerts an equal and opposite force on the structure (reaction), resulting in force equilibrium.

In the case of a building, the weight of the structure (i.e., the force of gravity) applies a vertical downward force on the ground. This constitutes the "action." The ground, in response, exerts an equal and opposite upward force on the building, known as the "reaction." This interaction ensures the balance of forces, keeping the building stable.

However, what happens if the ground exerts a lateral force on the base of the building that exceeds the building's reaction?

In fact, this equilibrium is critical in analyzing the static and dynamic behavior of structures, especially when considering additional and differently directed loads such as wind, seismic events, and other external forces. When the ground applies a lateral force to the base of the building that surpasses the structure’s capacity to react (e.g., through vertical loads and structural strength), the building may lose its equilibrium. This can lead to various failure mechanisms, depending on the nature and magnitude of the force.

If such a lateral force arises from seismic activity or ground displacement, the following phenomena may occur:

• Sliding: If the lateral force exceeds the friction between the building’s foundation and the ground, the structure may slide across the ground, causing damage to the foundations and possibly the upper structural elements.
• Overturning: A sufficiently strong lateral force can cause the building to rotate around a corner of its foundation, leading to overturning. The likelihood of overturning depends on the height and weight of the building relative to its base.

In addition to the potential overturning of the entire building, vertical structural elements such as columns are also prone to rotational instability. This rotational behavior generates destructive moments at the joints, where vertical elements are rigidly connected to horizontal structural components. These moments induce deformations in the main body of the structural elements, progressively leading to their eventual failure.

This phenomenon is critical in seismic design, as the induced moments and rotational tendencies compromise the integrity of the structural frame, leading to premature failure if not adequately mitigated. The structural system must be designed to resist such moments and rotations through appropriate reinforcement, increasing the resilience of both the vertical and horizontal elements.

• Plastic Failures or Cracks: If the building is not adequately reinforced to withstand such lateral forces, plastic deformations (failures in structural elements such as columns and walls) or serious cracks may appear in the structure.
• Soil Rupture: If the ground beneath the building lacks sufficient bearing capacity and is subjected to excessive stress, cracks or subsidence may occur, compromising the stability of the structure.

Seismic Behavior and Earthquake-Resistant Design

In seismically active regions, lateral forces from seismic loads are often the most critical. To counter these forces, earthquake-resistant design considers factors such as:

• Shear and deformation of walls.
• Adequate foundation design to prevent subsidence, sliding, or overturning.
• Prestressed systems or reinforcements, such as tendon applications, that enhance the building’s resistance to lateral forces.

The fundamental difference in earthquake-resistant design is that it aims to increase the building's dynamic response, allowing it to withstand forces greater than the "natural" reaction it would have without reinforcement.

The newly proposed technology primarily integrates the mass of the structure with the mass of the ground, ensuring that the building’s reaction originates from the ground.

By integrating the building’s mass with the mass of the ground, the proposed technology seeks to utilize the reaction from the ground. This means the ground essentially becomes part of the reaction system, improving the stability and the structure’s capacity to withstand external forces, such as seismic loads.

Instead of relying solely on the strength of vertical elements (columns, walls) and the foundation, the structure "collaborates" with the ground to achieve a stronger and more efficient reaction to seismic forces. This can be accomplished either by using prestressing mechanisms or through other reinforcement techniques that incorporate the ground into the system's response.

This advanced approach could lead to a significant reduction in damage during seismic events if it successfully transfers part of the seismic energy into the ground, rather than being absorbed solely by the structure itself.

To achieve the transfer of seismic energy into the ground, the proposed technology connects the structure to the ground through anchoring mechanisms and tendons, ensuring that the structure’s reaction is transferred into the ground, not just resting upon it. This solid connection between the building and the ground is critical to reducing the destructive forces during earthquakes.

Moreover, increasing the dynamic capacity of walls without increasing mass—which would otherwise elevate seismic loads—is achieved through the use of compressive forces. The walls, suitably reinforced to withstand compressive and shear forces, can better cope with the effects of seismic movements without the need for additional mass.

The integration of the structure with the ground and the use of compressive forces for wall reinforcement represent an innovative approach that could bring significant improvements to earthquake-resistant design.