Earthquake Safe buildings

what buildings should have

• foundations placed on level, firm ground
• have a normal shaped foundation
• no columns
• use fiberglass and concrete
• they are the most resistant

Good Foundations

• build on firm ground; structures fail on soft ground
• another solution called base isolation
• involves floating a building above foundations
• on a system of bearings, springs, or padded cylinders
• Ductility is a big part

Ductility

• refers to the ability to undergo large deformations
• brick and concrete have low ductility
• buildings made of structural steel offer highest ductility
• structural steel components that come in a variety of shapes
• shapes like beams, angles and plates

Lead Rubber Bearings

• engineers often choose them 
• lead core makes bearing strong and stiff
• rubber and steel bands make the bearing flexible
• bearings attach to the building and foundations
• they attach via steel plates

what causes buildings to fail

• most buildings are designed to support their weight
• building design typically focuses on vertical loading
• usually too much lateral load that causes the most damage

what to do indoors

• remain calm
• if indoors-stay there  
• stay away from windows and unbolted furniture 
• go under a desk, table, or along interior wall
• protect head, neck, and face

what to do outdoors

• move to an open area
• stay away from things like trees and buildings
• drop to the ground
• cover your head and neck

Making  Utilities Safer

• flexible joints and pipes can be installed
• can keep gas and water lines from breaking
• automatic shut-off valves also shut off water and gas

what is in seismic-safe buildings

• shear walls
• tension ties
• cross braces
• dampers
• base isolators and flexible pipes

Shear Walls

• transfers some of a quake's energy
• transfers the energy from floors and roofs
• transfers the energy to building's foundation

Tension Ties

• firmly "tie" floors and ceilings of a building
• tie them to the walls 
• absorb and scatter earthquake energy
• reduce damage

Cross Braces

• placed between stories
• used to stiffen a building's frame
• also used to absorb energy

Dampers

• work like the shock absorbers in a car
• used to absorb some seismic energy waves

Store Interior Design 1

• shelves double bolted to the walls
• have this so they don't collapse 
• tables attached/bolted to the floor
• items on tables will have non-sliding mats underneath
• hangers bolted/stuck to the walls

Store Interior Design 2

• windows made of fiberglass
• mirrors firmly attached to the wall
• attached so they won't fall
• cash register attached to the table
• attached using non-stick mats

Store Interior Design 3

• shoes kept in cabinets bolted to the wall
• store bolted to foundation
• bolted down water heater
• child proof latches
• velcro installed in corners in cabinents