We live on a planet that is not as stable as it may seem and in certain areas of the world steel building design for earthquakes is a necessary consideration. Earthquakes are largely unpredictable and when new buildings are designed and built it is expected that they be able to withstand the effects of an earthquake at a moments notice.
For years scientists did extensive studies, pouring millions of dollars into research to discover the best construction materials and designs to withstand the elemental forces of nature. Steel was found to be vastly more flexible and able to withstand greater forces than standard concrete.
Steel is highly ductile and has proven to be the best choice for building construction in earthquake prone regions. The material does need to be used in a specific way to achieve the best resistance, so design is a very important factor. The two factors need to be carefully combined as a poorly designed building could suffer damage, no matter the quality of the steel used.
The future steel buildings weight distribution is extremely important when considering the early design concepts for a structure that will have to withstand the forces of an earthquake. A top heavy building is going to be far more likely to topple than one that carries the bulk of it weight in the foundations and lower stories.
Traditionally steel rebar is used to form a large part of the structure of any building, but the weight balance should be mostly concentrated in the lower regions of said building. As each new floor is added the construction should consist of light weight materials. Keep in mind that many large structures are capable of having thousands of people in the structure at any one time and safety should be a high priority.
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.
The successful design elements are many, but a few standard ones include the use of trusses, eccentrically braced frames, diaphragms, concentrically braced frames and shear walls, to name but a few. The inclusion of diaphragms is so that the horizontal forces can be more easily absorbed and dissipated throughout the frame of the structure.
The design path taken by the architect will be greatly affected by the buildings general purpose and function. A different design would be adopted to accommodate a school or a hotel than the design for a medical institution or library. Keep weight distribution in mind, with heavier loads being assigned to lower floors and more towards the central core 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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