Earthquake Proof Buildings

This concise work provides a general introduction to the design of buildings which must be resistant to the effect of earthquakes. A major part of this design involves the building structure which has a primary role in preventing serious damage or structural collapse. Much of the material presented in this book examines building structures. Due to the recent discovery of vertical components, it examines not only the resistance to lateral forces but also analyses the disastrous influence of vertical components. The work is written for Practicing Civil, Structural, and Mechanical Engineers, Seismologists and Geoscientists. It serves as a knowledge source for graduate students and their instructors.

There’s no telling when an earthquake can strike, which is why engineers building in earthquake-prone places need to be careful. Earthquake-proofing buildings takes cutting-edge science and lots of testing, but these amazing creations help keep people safe and prevent further chaos in the event of disaster. Full-color photographs that chronicle the construction of simple bunker-like rooms as well as more complex buildings yet to be tested by major geological events will mesmerize readers. They’ll also get a look at how high-rises are built to combat the shaking and swaying that comes with these natural disasters.

Introducing important concepts in the study of earthquakes related to retrofitting of structures to be made earthquake resistant. The book investigates the pounding effects on base-isolated buildings, the soil-structure-interaction effects on adjacent buildings due to the impact, the seismic protection of adjacent buildings and the mitigation of earthquakeinduced vibrations of two adjacent structures. These concepts call for a new understanding of controlled systems with passive-active dampers and semi-active dampers. The passive control strategy of coupled buildings is investigated for seismic protection in comparison to active and semi-active control strategies.

Earthquake engineering is the ultimate challenge for structural engineers. Even if natural phenomena involve great uncertainties, structural engineers need to design buildings, bridges, and dams capable of resisting the destructive forces produced by them. These disasters have created a new awareness about the disaster preparedness and mitigation. Before a building, utility system, or transportation structure is built, engineers spend a great deal of time analyzing those structures to make sure they will perform reliably under seismic and other loads. The purpose of this book is to provide structural engineers with tools and information to improve current building and bridge design and construction practices and enhance their sustainability during and after seismic events. In this book, Khan explains the latest theory, design applications and Code Provisions. Earthquake-Resistant Structures features seismic design and retrofitting techniques for low and high raise buildings, single and multi-span bridges, dams and nuclear facilities. The author also compares and contrasts various seismic resistant techniques in USA, Russia, Japan, Turkey, India, China, New Zealand, and Pakistan. Written by a world renowned author and educator Seismic design and retrofitting techniques for all structures Tools improve current building and bridge designs Latest methods for building earthquake-resistant structures Combines physical and geophysical science with structural engineering

Earthquakes are catastrophic events that cause huge economic losses due to the vulnerability of the existing building stock. However, collapses of vulnerable buildings can be avoided if preventative measures, such as enhancement of their earthquake resistance, are implemented on time. This book will allow the reader to become acquainted with a number of unique, modern and cost-effective seismic isolation strategies, which can be easily, and in very short periods of time, and without interruption of the use of the buildings, implemented with high efficiency in existing buildings, making them earthquake proof. An important aspect here is that the book’s seismic isolation strategies are demonstrated on real examples of existing buildings with different structural systems, such as reinforced concrete frame buildings with shear walls and stone buildings with load-bearing walls. The cost-effectiveness of the suggested strategies is further proved by comparative analyses carried out for buildings both with and without seismic isolation systems.

Research studies on the preparation for and mitigation of future earthquakes, an area of increasing importance to many countries around the world, comprise this volume. The selected papers included in this book have been prepared by experts from around the world in the fields of earthquake engineering relevant to the design of structures. As the world’s population has concentrated in urban areas resulting in buildings in regions of high seismic vulnerability, we have seen the consequences of natural disasters take an ever higher toll on human existence. Protecting the built environment in earthquake-prone regions involves not only the optimal design and construction of new facilities, but also the upgrading and rehabilitation of existing structures including heritage buildings, which is an important area of research. Major earthquakes and associated effects, such as tsunamis, continue to stress the need to carry out more research and a better understanding of these phenomena is required to design earthquake resistant buildings and to carry out risk assessment and vulnerability studies.