The earthquake, however, must be to every one a most impressive event: the earth, considered from our earliest childhood as the type of solidity, has oscillated like a thin crust beneath our feet; and in seeing the labored works of man in a moment overthrown, we feel the insignificance of his boasted power. – Charles Darwin
Humanity’s efforts have been damaged or destroyed by earthquakes for as long as we have been building structures. However, ingenuity and determination (along with a lot of science & math) have helped modern societies develop earthquake-resistant structures. Two primary goals when designing such structures is to minimize the loss of life (by preventing collapse) and minimizing the loss of functionality within the building.
The techniques applied to the earthquake-resistant design of a structure can vary greatly and can include:
- Using bendable/lightweight materials
- Structural dampers (shock absorbers)
- Base isolators (via bearings or cushions)
- Shear walls (braced panels that counter lateral loads)
The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.
CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.