Anti-seismic buildingsAfter the violent earthquake near Japan, we wonder if it is possible to build an anti-seismic building? The answer is yes and no. Of course, there are engineering techniques that can be used to create a very solid structure capable of withstanding a modest or even large earthquake. However, during a very strong earthquake, even the best-designed building can suffer serious damage. Engineers design buildings to resist as much lateral movement as possible in order to minimize damage to the structure and give occupants time to exit safely. Buildings are basically designed to carry a vertical load in order to support the walls, roof and everything else inside to keep them standing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Earthquakes present a lateral load on the building structure that is a little more complicated to explain. One way to make a simple structure more resistant to these lateral forces is to tie the walls, floor, roof, and foundation into a rigid box that stays together when shaken by an earthquake. The most dangerous building construction, from an earthquake perspective, is made of unreinforced brick or concrete block. Generally this type of construction involves walls made of bricks stacked on top of each other and held together with mortar. The roof is laid high. The weight of the roof is carried directly through the wall to the foundation. When this type of construction is subjected to the lateral force of an earthquake, the walls tip over or crumble and the roof falls like a house of cards. Construction techniques can have a huge impact on the number of earthquake victims. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile in 2010 killed more than 700 people. On January 12, 2010, a less powerful, magnitude 7.0 earthquake killed more than 200,000 people in Haiti. The difference in death toll comes from building construction and technology. In Haiti, buildings were constructed quickly and cheaply. Chile, a wealthier and more industrialized nation, adheres to more rigorous building codes. Skyscrapers As buildings become larger and larger, other techniques such as “base isolation” are employed. For the past 30 years, engineers have built skyscrapers that float on systems of ball bearings, springs and padded cylinders. Acting like shock absorbers in a car, these systems allow the building to be decoupled from ground vibrations. Watch the video below to see these systems in action. These buildings do not rest directly on the ground, so they are protected from some seismic shocks. In the event of a strong earthquake, they can even oscillate a few meters. The buildings are surrounded by "moats" or buffer zones, so they don't sway into other structures. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Another Technique to Dampen the Impact Swaying a tall building means building a large mass (several tons) that can swing at the top of the building in opposition to the sway of the building. Known as “tuned mass dampers,” these devices can reduce the sway of a building by up to 30-40%. Taipei 101, formerly known as Taipei World Financial Center, actually has a giant pendulum mounted between the 88th and 92nd floors. Weighing 730 tons and the ability to move 5 feet in any direction, it is considered the largest and heaviest building damper in the world. In fact, it's so heavy.