Sunday, November 11, 2018

6 Common Methods Used By Earthquake Retrofit Companies

By Susan Watson


Seismic retrofitting is the process that is used to modify existing buildings to be more resistant to seismic activities. Also, this technique makes the building more resistant to soil failure and ground motion. Therefore, the structures will not be affected in case of any seismic activities. Most people are now demanding for this technique, especially in urban settings. This has led to the establishment of so many earthquake retrofit companies. This is because of the high demand. There are several techniques used for the retrofitting. Some of the most common ones are listed below.

To begin with, the first PRESS approved technique is called external post-tensioning. This is a method that has been applied for many decades since its approval. In case you are wondering, PRESS is research body that has been there for decades, and it operates in Japan and the U. S of A. The scientists spent sleepless nights looking for ways to curb the impact of seismic activities.

Secondly, there is another technique called base isolation. This uses base isolators to collect the structural elements from the building. The collected elements are later used to decouple other structures of the building when the ground is shaking. Hence, the seismic performance of the elective is enhanced because the integrity of the structure is increased. This technology can thus be applied to other structures to make them withstand earth activities.

Another important technique is called supplementary damping. This is applied by using supplementary dampers to absorb energy or motion during seismic activities. Then the dampers convert the absorbed energy into heat which is damped or released into the other structures of the elective. Thus, the building is not moved by the motion impact. However, the building will eventually become weak due to the damping effect.

Another technique that is employed is called TMD or tuned mass dampers. This method uses movable weights that are on things that look like springs. These are used to reduce wind sway, especially in skyscrapers. The TMDs can thus be used to impart seismic activities in about ten story buildings. The method is active in places that are prone to seismic activities.

The fifth technique is known as slosh tank. Here, a large tank, called a sloshing tank, is filled with a low viscous liquid like water. Then, the tank is taken to a part of the structure that there are lateral motions that are significant, like the roof. It thus counters all the dynamic motions that may take place.

The active control-system is the next technique. This is usually used in extremely tall buildings. Since modern buildings are constructed with lightweight materials, they tend to be light and a bit weak compared to older buildings. Therefore, to prevent these structures from swaying during winds, this technique is applied.

So many other techniques are used to make buildings stronger to withstand strong winds and earth movements. Hence, people who live in places prone to the seismic activities are advised to apply any of these methods. This will prevent their structures from being damaged. More so, they will avoid incurring losses due to the damages.




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