Earthquake "safe" Building Techniques

[Thomas]

Specialists say

-It's impossible to build 100 % sure earthquake safe, but it's possible to build much safer.

 

Back in school I learned frames with TRIANGEL shapes are much stronger than having square shapes ONLY.  (But it's possible to combine TWO triangels to one square   :)

 

When I have looked at houses during constructions in Phils, I have never seen any triangel solutions.

(I mean BIG ones, not counting the very small ones in iron bars INSIDE poles if there are any there.)

This suprise me much.   You guys, who have built, do your houses have any big triangels to make square shapes stonger (e g in outer wall)  ?

 

After some nature catastrophs it has been told about DOOM (ball) shaped houses are strong even with thin concrete layer. 

So i got suprised when I did read this:

 

Why did houses collapse in this earthquake? Why did some not?

Build Change begins with forensic engineering studies after earthquakes to understand why buildings collapse and how to build them better. We have studied housing performance after 12 earthquakes in six developing countries. See post-disaster reconnaissance reports.

For any type of structure, safe construction depends on the three C’s: configuration, connections, and construction quality.

1. Configuration: simple, square, symmetric building layouts are best.
2. Connections: tie upper structure to foundation, roof to walls, and walls to the frame or confining elements, and tie them to each other.
3. Construction quality: concrete blocks need good raw materials, and enough cement, and proper curing. Masons must completely fill the joints between blocks.

http://www.buildchange.org/approach/

[Methersgate]

Nipa hut on poles?  

[mogo51]

Specialists say

-It's impossible to build 100 % sure earthquake safe, but it's possible to build much safer.

 

Back in school I learned frames with TRIANGEL shapes are much stronger than having square shapes ONLY.  (But it's possible to combine TWO triangels to one square   :)

 

When I have looked at houses during constructions in Phils, I have never seen any triangel solutions.

(I mean BIG ones, not counting the very small ones in iron bars INSIDE poles if there are any there.)

This suprise me much.   You guys, who have built, do your houses have any big triangels to make square shapes stonger (e g in outer wall)  ?

 

After some nature catastrophs it has been told about DOOM (ball) shaped houses are strong even with thin concrete layer. 

So i got suprised when I did read this:

 

Why did houses collapse in this earthquake? Why did some not?

Build Change begins with forensic engineering studies after earthquakes to understand why buildings collapse and how to build them better. We have studied housing performance after 12 earthquakes in six developing countries. See post-disaster reconnaissance reports.

For any type of structure, safe construction depends on the three C’s: configuration, connections, and construction quality.

1. Configuration: simple, square, symmetric building layouts are best.
2. Connections: tie upper structure to foundation, roof to walls, and walls to the frame or confining elements, and tie them to each other.
3. Construction quality: concrete blocks need good raw materials, and enough cement, and proper curing. Masons must completely fill the joints between blocks.

http://www.buildchange.org/approach/

 

 

Now the last point is something that Thais should be told!  They must have had a day off when that one was suggested.

[ironmaiden]

Studies from the earthquake in Haiti some years ago showed that columns failed because there were not enough stir ups ( the rectangles around the main bars) in the columns to keep the steel from bending outwards. I think building methods are fine here, but the real question is is there enough steel in your concrete, have they not used too much water whilst making the concrete ( halves the strength of the concrete by just adding 1 bucket of water per sack of cement) and is concrete cured? Up to this day I have not seen anyone curing concrete in this country. My house was build rather well, at least better than all other houses I've seen build, but no curing at all.

[Jake]

Nipa hut on poles?  

Works for me but I would not build it near a coconut tree.....he, he.

[Jack Peterson]

After some nature catastrophs it has been told about DOOM (ball) shaped houses are strong even with thin concrete layer.  So i got suprised when I did read this:

 

 

Probably Thomas, that's why they build "Igloos" Dome shaped.

 

Just a Thought.

 

Jack :thumbsup:

[scott h]

Not being a structural engineer, when we built our house here I applied the K.I.S.S. rule.

 

When planning on materials, I asked what was the normal size ree bar that is used here in homes, when shown we upgraded to what they use in commercial buildings. Same with concrete and blocks. Found out what was normally used, and upgraded to the top of the line that was locally available. Since then we have had a couple of medium tremblers with no damage. Some cracks in the plaster (but that could be normal house settling)

 

You can construct a 100% earthquake proof house here. If the materials are available, if you can find someone who knows how to install them, and if you have the cash to purchase it, if a person doesn't, well this is a great intellectual discussion.

[Dave Hounddriver]

Back in school I learned frames with TRIANGEL shapes are much stronger than having square shapes ONLY.  (But it's possible to combine TWO triangels to one square

 

Back in Roman times they learned that an arch is better than either of those.

[DavidK]

Build it on rubber

[Jollygoodfellow]

 

Back in school I learned frames with TRIANGEL shapes are much stronger than having square shapes ONLY.  (But it's possible to combine TWO triangels to one square

 

Back in Roman times they learned that an arch is better than either of those.

 

 

 

Egyptians used triangles in the pyramids   :thumbsup: