Earthquake Resistance Techniques

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Earthquake Resistance Techniques

Introduction

“Earthquakes don’t have the ability to kill or cause harm, however buildings do.” This is a famous quote that tries to emphasize on the need for earthquake precautions and measures especially in buildings. Earthquakes, just like other natural calamities, cannot be prevented, though it is possible to minimize their impacts and effects. Like other natural calamities, earthquakes have the ability to cause harm and damage to both life and property. Two basic types of seismic waves are responsible for causing earthquakes (Chang, & Soong, 1992). These two waves are distinguished by the speeds at which each of them travels through the earth. Primary or push waves travel faster and they are longitudinal in nature. These waves have the ability to pass through liquids too. The slower waves are referred to as secondary or shake waves. These waves travel like light waves, though they cannot travel in liquids.

Seismic waves that cause earthquakes hazards become more destructive when they travel through the ground and reach its surface where there are structures and buildings .When these waves reach such places, the cause strong ground motion which make the buildings and structures to shake and move at very high speeds. Most of the buildings and structures cannot be able to withstand the ground motions and as a result, buildings and bridges collapse, fires, flash floods and hued destructive ocean waves are experienced, and in some instances, landslides are experienced. Densely populated areas may experience serious injuries and deaths as a result of earthquakes. In order to take precautions especially in buildings, several earthquake resistant techniques must be put in place. This study anal...

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... in Context. Retrieved on 20 Nov. 2013.

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Pastia,C. (2005), Passive and Semi-Active Control Systems: Theoretical,Numerical and Experimental aspects. Tech.Report,JRC Special. Retrieved on 20 Nov. 2013 from

www.ce.tuiasi.ro/~bipcons/Archive/281.pdf

Shao, D., Pall, A., and Soli, B. (2006) Friction Dampers for seismic upgrade of a 14-story patient tower with a 36-foot tall soft story. U. S. National Conf. on Earthquake Engineering, EERI, Oakland, Calif., (90). Retrieved on 20 Nov. 2013.from

www.palldynamics.com/pdf/Paper00901.pdf

Spencer, B. F., Jr., Johnson, E. A., and Ramallo, J. C. (2000) Smart isolation for seismic control. Retrieved on 20 Nov. 2013 from

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