Building that can hold

against an Earthquake

By: Ibrahim, Ali Mokhtari, Maryam 12-B

The problem:

Imagine that you are a company that builds high skyscrapers or architectural buildings, your team made many
different buildings to know they can resist earthquakes or not in a country like Japan, the data from these buildings
needs to be analyzed to ensure the buildings meet the safety standards and to make necessary improvements. Our
task is to examine the building if it can hold enough pressure, calculate what we need, and do based on our findings.

The Question:

How can we build and design buildings that can resist a high earthquake?
Scenario
Tuned mass Reinforced concrete
1 Base Isolation 2 3
dampers and steel

Design a building with a base Develop a high-rise building Compare two building designs,
isolation system to separate it with tuned mass dampers to one with traditional concrete
from the ground motion during counteract swaying during and the other with reinforced
an earthquake. seismic events. concrete and steel.
What we need to do
Task: Explanation:

Gravitational force We will calculate the gravitational force

pressure We will calculate the pressure

Symmetry and redundancy We will calculate the symmetry of the building

Emergency evacuation plan We will develop a plan that take into account in
earthquake scenarios

Seismic analysis We will conduct an analysis of the building site

Base isolation We will do a fundamental technique in earthquake

resistant building design

Flexible building shape We will do a building shape that minimizes wind

and seismic forces.
How is it related to Physics?

An earthquake resistant building relies on physics to endure seismic forces. Base

isolation systems absorb ground motion, reducing structural stress. Reinforced
materials. Like steel and concrete, increase strength and flexibility. Damping systems,
such as tuned mass dampers, dissipate energy to control sway. Physics principles
guide the design ensuring a safe, resilient structure during seismic events.
Phase two
calculations

Seismic forces
F=m.a
Force equals mass times
acceleration due to the earthquake
Seismic forces are generated by
seismic waves that shake the surface
as they move through it
.
Seismic waves are mechanical waves o
f acoustic energy that travel through th
e Earth or another planetary body
Ground shaking generates internal forc
es within buildings called the Inertial F
orce (FInertial), which in turn causes
most seismic damage
.
FInertial is calculated as Mass (M) X
Acceleration (A)
.
Resisting
elements
 ● mass--- 200kg/m2 of floor area
● height--- 3m per story
- in a 7 stories building 21m
●
Characteristics -
Total floor area=
A= 200x7 = 1400
●
of a building
Total mass =
- m= height x mass x stories
- m= 21 x 200 x 7= 29400
● Maverage= M/7(stories)
- 29400/7 = 4200
Local seismic The damage potential of an earthquake is
determined by how the ground moves and how

hazard the buildings within the affected region are

constructed. Expected ground motion can be
calculated on the basis of probability, and the
expected ground motions are referred to as
seismic hazard.

Resisting Force
equation
R=u x W
u= coefficient of friction between
building and the ground
W= total weight of the building
So to be able to know how much can a building
resist an earthquake we need to calculate the
friction that occurs between the building and
the ground during the earthquake
So the total weight being 29400
And the u 0.8
● friction= u x Fnormal
● Fnormal= mxg
- 29400kg x 9.8m/s2
- Fnormal = 288120N
● Friction = 0.8 x 288120N
- Friction = 230496N
 - When developing buildings that can withstand
Damping
integrating damping technologies enhances the
seismic resilience of buildings, providing a safer
environment for occupants during earthquake
events.
earthquakes, damping is essential. The dissipation of
energy within a structure is referred to as damping, and
it is essential for reducing the impacts of seismic
forces. In order to absorb and disperse the vibrational
energy produced by an earthquake, engineers employ a
variety of damping methods. Adding damping devices
to the building's structure, such as viscous or tuned
mass dampers, is one popular technique. These are
situated in such a way as to mitigate the natural
oscillations of the building and lessen their magnitude.
In doing so, dampening increases the building's ability
to withstand seismic forces and reduces the risk of
structural damage. Furthermore, cutting-edge materials
with built-in dampening capabilities are frequently
used in building.
 Thank You
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