How Structural Engineering Firms Help Buildings Avoid and Recover from Earthquake Damage

You may have heard that hundreds of earthquakes happen everyday. Most of them are so weak, however, that they pose no danger to your building. But every so often, a big one that can potentially destroy your property occurs.

The good news is that you have an ally against such calamities: structural engineers. Find out how they can be of service to you.
 

Constructing a Resilient Building

 
While you can’t predict when the next big one will hit, you can reinforce your building to withstand the seismic beating that an earthquake can dish out. And in this regard, structural engineers have a few considerations to look at before commencing work.

Perhaps the most important factor is the kind of materials used in a building. Generally speaking, engineers will use more flexible materials such as wood and steel as these are less likely to snap or break in the event of a quake. Hence, many buildings built along fault lines are made from these materials.

Where the building stands is just as important as the materials it’s made of. Many people fail to realize that building foundations are not all made equal. In certain parts of the country, the ground is made of soft soil that is less than ideal as a foundation. In such cases, structural engineering firms might have to do additional prep work to reinforce the ground, and make it stable enough to support a building—and withstand an earthquake.

In some cases, however, the ground has underlying bedrock, which absorbs the wave energy from a quake better, making it more ideal as a foundation. Of course, you might need to consult your engineer to know which material the ground in your area is made of.

The height of the building might also play a role in how earthquake resistant it is. A skyscraper, for instance, is very tall and thus tends to have more “give” when hit by a quake—kind of like a bamboo stalk that quivers when you push on it. A building with only a few stories, however, is stiffer or less flexible, which is why it’s actually more vulnerable to earthquake damage than a skyscraper, believe it or not. If your locality is known to be earthquake prone, your structural engineer might advise against building anything too tall.

Lastly, the engineer can also add structural modifications like a base isolator to make your building more earthquake resilient. As the name suggests, this feature isolates the base of the structure from seismic activity, and it usually comes in two variants. The first looks like two giant hockey pucks that absorb the energy in lieu of the building. The other one is a set of two horizontal plates that are made frictionless; in the event of a quake, only the bottom plate moves, ensuring that the top plate—and the building that rests on it—remain undisturbed.
 

Structural Engineers to the Rescue

 
Of course, no matter how well equipped your building may be, there is still a need to have it evaluated for safety and structural integrity after a quake. Once again, a structural engineer proves indispensable for this task.

Your engineer will usually begin with a visual inspection of the structure, and look for tilts and land shifts. On the inside, he or she will also look for tell-tale signs such as compromised columns and walls.

Generally speaking, engineers will conduct an evaluation within 24 hours of a quake to do a quick scan of the property. Then, he or she may return several days later for a follow-up inspection that seeks to discover damage that only reveal themselves after some time.

Indeed, earthquakes are one of the most destructive and unpredictable calamities known to man. With the help of structural engineers, however, you will be better able to protect and recover from them.
 

Sources:

 
Depend on structural engineers before and after an earthquake, Buildings.com

Damage Control Engineering, Exploratorium.edu