The powerful earthquake that recently devastated Mexico reminded us of the vulnerability of human buildings when faced with the forces of nature without proper protection protocols. I learned this the painful way that people died. This event marked a turning point in earthquake-resistant architecture. In fact, most modern structures were able to withstand the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake. However, such drastic measures are not always feasible, as old buildings must be demolished in order to build new ones. That is, until new techniques emerged, such as those developed by his Professor Nemkumar Banthia and his team at the University of British Columbia.
Created under the guidance of this civil engineering professor, the new material is called EDCC (Eco-Friendly Ductile Cement Composites) and is capable of resisting forces as powerful as those unleashed by the 2011 Japan earthquake. It has been shown in simulations thatThe best thing about it is how easy it is to apply: just spray it on the wall to achieve a 10mm thick coating. Sufficient to reinforce most interior walls against seismic shockexplained Soleimani-Dashtaki, one of the researchers.
To provide this kind of protection, the material utilizes a mixture of polymer-based fibers, fly ash, and other industrial additives. In fact, 70% of regular cement has been replaced by fly ash, a by-product from the aforementioned coal-fired power plant. This means that the amount of cement required is significantly reduced and the carbon footprint is accordingly reduced. It should be remembered that producing 1 ton of cement produces approximately the same amount of carbon dioxide. This is where eco-friendly labels come into play.
EDCC is not an empty pie. Seismic retrofitting work has already been carried out A campus building at the University of British Columbia, planned for the Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary School in Vancouver. It is expected to play a key role in reinforcing pipelines, paving, offshore platforms, explosion-proof structures and industrial floors in the near future.
Other seismic technology
Research in the last few decades has led to great advances in the field of earthquake damage prevention. As mentioned earlier in this article, Japan is one of the leading countries in this space, but others, such as Chile, have implemented innovative construction protocols to tackle these issues. Many of the advances achieved are related to our understanding of a natural phenomenon called liquefaction. This causes the bedrock on which the building is based to behave like a liquid when subjected to enormous geological forces, such as earthquakes.
These are some of the most common techniques for protecting buildings from earthquake damage.
- Structural flexibility. One of the key factors is to have some flexibility in the concrete or steel structure to prevent failure. Instead of the dancers stepping on each other, the whole building seems to waltz to the earthquake. For example, in Japan beams are intertwined and behave like a knot. Steel plates covered with a latex membrane are also used.
- Pendulum and mass damper corrections. A skyscraper collapse is a truly catastrophic event that should be avoided at all costs. That is why heavy structures are placed on top of some tall buildings to act like counterweights in the event of an earthquake shaking. And vice versa. An example of this kind of mechanism can be found in Taipei 101, a 1,600-foot skyscraper in Taiwan, China.
- Seismic isolation and energy dissipation system. The former is used to separate the building from the bedrock on which it is located. This way, movement only affects the actual isolation system, not the building above. Imagine a waiter holding a tray stationary in the air while moving the rest of your body. The latter, on the other hand, act as dampers that absorb lateral movements of the building.
sauce: UBC, Digital Trends, BBC
