Friday, November 16, 2018

Common Techniques Used By Earthquake Retrofit Companies

By Susan Watson


To modify buildings so that they can withstand seismic activities, seismic retrofitting is usually done. There are several techniques that are usually used. The main aim is to make electives more resistant to ground motions and soil failure. Therefore, in case of harsh climatic conditions that may cause motions, the buildings will be safe from damage. There are so many Earthquake Retrofit companies that are coming up. This is because of the high demand especially in areas that are more prone to earth activities. The following are some of the common techniques.

External post-tensioning is the first method. The technique is not new, and people have used it for many years. It has been approved by PRESS, which is a large research joint active in Japan and the United States of America. After many years of research, the scientists were able to come up with several techniques to prevent the impact of seismic activities on buildings. External post-tensioning was one of them.

Base isolation is the second method. It is applied by using base isolators. These isolators collect any structural elements of an elective and use them in decoupling the building. This means that the others building structures become intact even when there are ground movements. Therefore, this method enhances the integrity as well as seismic performance of the electives. Hence, if you live in with frequent earthquakes, this technique will protect your building.

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 next technique is known as the active control-system. This method is used in buildings that are extremely tall. Usually, most modern buildings are constructed using materials that are light-weight. Hence, during strong winds and earth movements, the structures may start to sway. This method thus makes the buildings stronger.

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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