Our living planet is an ever changing entity often prone to violent earth shifts. In specific zones earthquakes are commonplace and the need for steel building design for earthquakes is a very necessary safety consideration. The unpredictability of earthquakes makes it necessary for buildings to be earthquake ready at all times.
Many years and many millions of dollars have gone into research surrounding the subject of earthquake resistant building materials and designs. Steel designs have been discovered to have greater resistance to the forces of nature than concrete. Steel can flex and absorb shock waves whereas concrete shatters.
The best metal, by far, is considered to be steel for building earthquake resistant buildings due to the fact that it is a highly ductile material. The overall design and the way that the steel is used is also a very important factor. Some designs are going to better withstand natures destructive forces than others. There is a specific art and science to designing a building that can resist earthquakes.
An important factor to take into account when designing a building that will be erected in an earthquake zone is its weight distribution. The upper stories of the future steel buildings should be constructed of lightweight materials, with the bulk of the weight being kept at the base of the building. As with any building, if it is top heavy it will be more likely to topple when subjected to the full force of an earthquake.
Steel rebar should be used to reinforce the structure at its base, but as the building should be bottom heavy, the use of lighter weight materials should be employed for the construction of the upper floors. Often these buildings can house thousands of workers and in an earthquake zone the responsibility of building an earthquake resistant building should not be taken lightly.
Careful design and construction can save the lives of thousands of people in the event of an earthquake. It can also minimize repair costs after the earthquake. Poorly designed buildings can topple as the earth shifts, damaging surrounding buildings and the general infrastructure of the entire area.
Many elements can be put together for a successful design. Trusses, diaphragms, shear walls and concentrically braced frames all add to the strength and flexibility of a design. Diaphragms are useful for dissipating the horizontal movement caused by violent earth shifts and will absorb a high percentage of this type of movement.
A large consideration is the purpose of the building. Will it be a hospital, a school, or perhaps a public library? Weight distribution is very important and with a library, it should be situated on the lower floors for better inertial damping. The heavier the load, the closer to the foundation it should be and where possible, nearest the centre of the building.
Symmetrical designs are better at withstanding these forces than asymmetrical designs. Try to use lightweight materials for building design and use steel rolled products, like H bars, flanged cruciform, box sections or I and boxed W shaped sections to reinforce the integrity of your design.
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