Unit D Lesson D16 Building Structures That Survive Disasters
Completion requirements
Lesson D16: Building Structures That Survive Disasters
Video Lesson
Skyscrapers in earthquake zones can be designed to avoid collapse when the ground shakes. Watch this video to learn more about building structures that survive disasters such as earthquakes.
Lesson D16: Building Structures That Survive Disasters
Earthquake Dangers
The danger to people during an earthquake is not the shaking of the ground. Earthquakes are dangerous because they can cause buildings to collapse, thereby hurting or killing the people inside the buildings.
After an earthquake, peoples health and safety can be affected for a very long time. If houses collapse, families are left homeless. Often, water pipes break during earthquakes, leaving people without clean water. If gas pipes break, fires can start. Bridges and roads can be impassable. Electricity is likely disrupted.
The danger to people during an earthquake is not the shaking of the ground. Earthquakes are dangerous because they can cause buildings to collapse, thereby hurting or killing the people inside the buildings.
After an earthquake, peoples health and safety can be affected for a very long time. If houses collapse, families are left homeless. Often, water pipes break during earthquakes, leaving people without clean water. If gas pipes break, fires can start. Bridges and roads can be impassable. Electricity is likely disrupted.
Reading and Materials for This Lesson
Science in Action 7
Materials:
Science in Action 7
Reading: Pages 326–327
Materials:
No other materials are needed for this lesson.
Figure D.4.16.1 – In 2010, an earthquake damaged this office building in Chile.
Figure D.4.16.2 – Earthquakes can destroy peoples homes.
Watch More
This video explains why buildings fall during earthquakes.
Earthquakes occur in various parts of the world. Earthquakes in poorer, developing countries usually cause more damage and deaths than in richer, developed countries.
This video explains why the effects of earthquakes in the USA are different than the effects of earthquakes in China.
Similar Earthquake, Different Outcomes
A 2010 earthquake near the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killed 230 000 people. Many people died inside collapsed buildings.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. The Haitian government did not have enough money to develop a building code or to hire building inspectors. People constructed brick buildings without earthquake-resistant foundations. These buildings were not flexible; when the ground shook, killing approximately 150 000 and leaving about 1 500 000 homeless. The rebuilding process is occurring very slowly; even five years after the earthquake, many people are still living in tent camps.
A 2010 earthquake near the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killed 230 000 people. Many people died inside collapsed buildings.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. The Haitian government did not have enough money to develop a building code or to hire building inspectors. People constructed brick buildings without earthquake-resistant foundations. These buildings were not flexible; when the ground shook, killing approximately 150 000 and leaving about 1 500 000 homeless. The rebuilding process is occurring very slowly; even five years after the earthquake, many people are still living in tent camps.
Figure D.4.16.3 – Haiti earthquake.
Figure D.4.16.4 – Many homes and buildings collapsed during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
An earthquake of similar size to the one in Haiti occurred in 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand. This earthquake killed 181 people.
Less damage and deaths occur during earthquakes in developed countries because governments can ensure that people build structures safely using new technologies.
Less damage and deaths occur during earthquakes in developed countries because governments can ensure that people build structures safely using new technologies.
Figure D.4.16.7 – Base isolators are used to help buildings stay standing during earthquakes. Photo by
Mike Renlund.
Base Isolators
Because it connects with the earth, the foundation of a building shakes during an earthquake. The foundation design must be considered carefully when designing earthquake-resistant buildings.
Base isolators are used in the foundations of tall buildings in earthquake zones. Base isolators cause the foundation and building to sway with the motion of the ground during an earthquake.
There is no Self-Check for this lesson. Please continue to the next lesson.