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Earthquake Effects and Design Structures 1

1. Earthquakes generate destructive inertia forces in structures by causing horizontal and vertical shaking that can deform and damage buildings. 2. The effects of earthquakes include the development of inertia forces that can shear structures, as well as deformations in columns that generate stiffness forces as they bend. 3. Other indirect effects include liquefaction, tsunamis, and landslides that can be triggered by strong earthquakes.

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673 views

Earthquake Effects and Design Structures 1

1. Earthquakes generate destructive inertia forces in structures by causing horizontal and vertical shaking that can deform and damage buildings. 2. The effects of earthquakes include the development of inertia forces that can shear structures, as well as deformations in columns that generate stiffness forces as they bend. 3. Other indirect effects include liquefaction, tsunamis, and landslides that can be triggered by strong earthquakes.

Uploaded by

johnlerreygallardo10
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EARTHQUAKE

EFFECTS AND
DESIGN
STRUCTURE
 Earthquake is the most dangerous natural phenomenon
that generates sizable destruction in structures. It is
reported that two sources of mistakes which would seriously
endanger structures are ignoring the ways an earthquake
affects buildings and shoddy construction practices.

 As earthquake hits structures, it generates inertia forces


which could be greatly destructive causing deformations
and, horizontal and vertical shaking.
What are the
Effects of
Earthquake on
Structures?
Inertia Forces in Structures
The generation of inertia forces in a
structure is one of the seismic
influences that detrimentally affect the
structure. When an earthquake causes
ground shaking, the base of the
building would move but the roof
would be at rest. However, since the
walls and columns are attached to it,
the roof is dragged with the base of the
building.
The tendency of the roof structure to remain at its
original position is called inertia. The inertia forces can
cause shearing of the structure which can concentrate
stresses on the weak walls or joints in the structure
resulting in failure or perhaps total collapse. Finally,
more mass means higher inertia force that is why lighter
buildings sustain the earthquake shaking better.
Development of Great Inertia Forces in the Six Storey
of Imperial County Services Building
Effect of Deformations in
Structures
During an earthquake, the force from the
roof is sent down to the ground through the
columns of a building. This makes the
columns experience a pushing and pulling
effect between their upper and lower parts,
as shown in Figure 2 with the "u"
measurement. Think of it like the columns
wanting to stay perfectly upright. They resist
bending or deforming during the shaking
because they naturally prefer to be straight
up and down.
When the columns stand perfectly straight, they
don't feel any sideways forces during an
earthquake. But when they bend even a little, they
start to generate inner forces. The bigger the
bending, which we call "u," the stronger these inner
forces become. Also, if the columns are thicker and
sturdier, these forces get stronger. We call these
inner forces "stiffness forces." They are basically
the column's stiffness (how much it can bend)
multiplied by how much it actually bends.
Horizontal and Vertical Shaking
During an earthquake, the ground moves up and down
(vertically) and also side to side (horizontally). Most
buildings are designed to handle the up and down
movement because they're used to dealing with vertical
forces.

However, it's the side-to-side shaking that's really


important for a building's safety. This horizontal
movement creates forces and causes the building to
sway, so it's essential to have a way for these forces to
travel safely through the structure and not cause any
damage.
To make sure the force from the earthquake
goes where it should, we need a good plan in
the design. This plan involves making sure the
floor, walls, and columns are strong and well-
connected.

Walls and columns are especially important in


moving the earthquake force. If we use weak
materials like thin concrete columns or
masonry walls, they can become weak spots in
the path for the force from the earthquake.
Other Effects
Apart from the direct influences of earthquakes on a
structure which are discussed above, there are other
effects such as liquefaction, tsunami, and landslides.
These are the indirect effects of strong earthquakes
that can cause sizable destruction.
To prevent buildings from falling
during an earthquake, they need to
spread out the forces that come their
way. There are some key parts in the
building that do this job, like shear
walls, cross braces, diaphragms, and
moment-resisting frames. Among
these, shear walls are like
superheroes that help move the
earthquake forces around.
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
Imagine how cars have shock absorbers to reduce bumpy rides. Well, in earthquake-resistant buildings, they
have a similar idea. These "shock absorbers" are used to lessen the impact of earthquakes and ease the pressure
on the building. There are two main ways they do this:

Vibrational Control Devices: These are like special parts placed between the columns and beams of a building.
They have piston heads and oil inside. During an earthquake, the energy from the shaking goes into these
devices, and they turn it into heat, which helps reduce the building's movement.

Pendulum Power: In really tall buildings, they use something like a big hanging ball connected to the top of the
building with cables. When the building starts swaying in an earthquake, the ball moves the opposite way to
keep the building steady. It's like a pendulum, swinging to balance things out and reduce the building's
movement.

Both of these methods are like smart ways to make buildings safer during earthquakes.
3. Shield Buildings from Vibrations

Instead of just pushing back against earthquakes, scientists are trying something
cool – they want to make buildings kind of invisible to seismic waves. They call
it the "seismic invisibility cloak."

Here's how it works: they make a cloak with a bunch of plastic and concrete
rings, like hula hoops, and put it under the building's foundation at least 3 feet
deep. When the earthquake waves come, they get lured into these rings and
pushed outwards. So, instead of hitting the building, they go around it and
disappear into the ground. It's like a magic trick that makes the building not feel
the earthquake as much.
4. Reinforce the Building’s Structure
To prevent buildings from collapsing during an earthquake, they need to spread and manage the forces that come
their way. This is done using various components:

Shear Walls: These are like strong walls made of multiple panels that help the building maintain its shape when
it shakes. They're often supported by diagonal cross braces made of steel, which can handle both pushing and
pulling forces.

Cross Braces: These are like strong X-shaped supports that attach to the building's frame. They make the
building sturdy, especially against strong winds and earthquakes.

Diaphragms: These are a crucial part of a building's structure, which includes the floors, roof, and decks.
Diaphragms help distribute and handle forces, making sure the building stays stable.

Moment-Resisting Frames: These are like flexible joints in a building's design. They allow some parts of the
building to bend during an earthquake while keeping other parts strong and rigid. This flexibility helps the
building withstand the earthquake's forces, all while giving designers the freedom to arrange things as they like.

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