Seismic buildingsAfter the massive earthquake near Japan, people wonder if it is possible to build a seismic building? The answer is yes and no. There are of course engineering techniques that can be used to create a very strong structure, capable of withstanding a modest or even a large earthquake. However, during a very strong earthquake, even the best-designed building can suffer serious damage. Engineers design buildings to resist lateral movement as much as possible to minimize damage to the structure and give occupants time to egress safely. Buildings are basically designed to carry a vertical load to support the walls, roof, and everything inside to keep them upright. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Earthquakes present a lateral, or lateral, load on the building structure that is a little more complicated to account for. One way to make a simple structure more resistant to these lateral forces is to attach the walls, floor, roof and foundation into a rigid box that holds together when shaken by an earthquake. view, is an unreinforced brick or concrete block. Typically, this type of construction features walls made of bricks stacked on top of each other and held together with mortar. The roof is laid across the top. The weight of the roof is carried directly through the wall to the foundation. When this type of construction is subjected to a lateral force caused by an earthquake, the walls tip or collapse and the roof collapses like a house of cards. Construction techniques can have a huge impact on earthquake casualties. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile in 2010 killed more than 700 people. On January 12, 2010, a less powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 killed more than 200,000 people in Haiti. The difference in this balance comes from the construction of the buildings and the technology. In Haiti, buildings were constructed quickly and inexpensively. Chile, a wealthier and more industrialized country, adheres to stricter building codes. Skyscrapers As buildings become larger and larger, other techniques are used such as "base isolation". Over the past 30 years, engineers have built skyscrapers that float on systems of ball bearings, springs and cushioned cylinders. Acting like shock absorbers in a car, these systems help decouple the building from ground shaking. Watch the video below to see these systems in action. These buildings do not rest directly on the ground, so they are protected from certain earthquakes. In the event of a major earthquake, they can oscillate up to a few meters. The buildings are surrounded by "moats" or buffer zones, so they do not flow into other structures. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Another technique to mitigate the sway of a tall building is to construct 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 a building's sway by up to 30 to 40 percent. Taipei 101, formerly known as Taipei World Financial Center, has a giant pendulum mounted..