SEISMIC RETROFITTING
Compare the Damage On The Left
Compare the Damage On The Left
Compare the Damage On The Left
Famous LA TIMES Article:
"The retrofitted house on the right, survived a large California quake, in contrast to the destroyed house on the left."
Compare the Damage On The Left
Compare the Damage On The Left
Seismic Retrofitting for Highrise Buildings
A Critical 'Base Isolation' System could prevent buildings from crumbling during a large quakes.
Written by Aria Bendix Innovation Reporter
- For decades, engineers have been using a technology called base isolation that can protect buildings from earthquakes.
- The system isn't common in the US, but it has been installed in the city halls of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pasadena, as well as Apple's new headquarters in the Silicon Valley.
- While many structures in the US are built directly on the ground, base-isolated structures, sit on bearings, that help absorb the shock of an earthquake.
- This unique system could help mitigate a major disaster, but property owners must be willing to pay an additional upfront cost.
Images Below
Soft-story buildings, like this one in Oakland, include unobstructed spaces like parking garages
BASE ISOLATION SYSTEMS
THIS "CONDO FAILURE" RAISED AWARENESS of "EMPTY SPACE" FAILURES
THIS "CONDO FAILURE" RAISED AWARENESS of "EMPTY SPACE" FAILURES
THIS "CONDO FAILURE" RAISED AWARENESS of "EMPTY SPACE" FAILURES
BASE ISOLATION SOLUTION
THIS "CONDO FAILURE" RAISED AWARENESS of "EMPTY SPACE" FAILURES
THIS "CONDO FAILURE" RAISED AWARENESS of "EMPTY SPACE" FAILURES
CITY BUILDING EXAMPLE
THIS "CONDO FAILURE" RAISED AWARENESS of "EMPTY SPACE" FAILURES
CITY BUILDING EXAMPLE
The San Francisco City Hall was retrofitted to include a base isolation system. Cabe6403/Wikimedia Commons