Introduction to Earthquake Resistant Design

Earthquakes were responsible for an estimated 1.87 million deaths in the 20 th century with an average of 2,052
fatalities per event affecting humans between 1990 and 2010 1,2. The magnitude 8.9 Japan earthquake and resulting
tsunami in March 2011 was responsible for more than 28,000 deaths; in comparison, the smaller magnitude 7.0
earthquake occurring in Haiti in January 2010 resulted in an estimated 222,500 fatalities 2. In recent history, the Pacific
Rim is the most affected by seismic activity, with 81% of the worlds largest earthquakes occurring in this region 3.
Earthquakes result from sudden energy releases in the earths crust, which create seismic waves that result in
ground shaking. Earthquakes are usually caused by slippage on a fault due to built up friction between tectonic plates
but can also be caused by volcanic eruptions or manmade explosions 4. Millions of earthquakes occur each year, though
only a small proportion is strong enough to be felt and even fewer cause damage. Earthquakes occur at focal depths of
700 km to just under the earths surface, and the strength of shaking diminishes with increasing distance from the
earthquakes source 5. Earthquake magnitude measures the energy released by an earthquake and is described by the
moment magnitude scale, which is a logarithmic scale, so that a magnitude 5 earthquake is about 10 times less
powerful than a 6, and 100 times less that a magnitude 7. A magnitude 2.5 earthquake is not generally felt by humans,
whereas earthquakes with magnitude >7.0 may cause widespread destruction 6. Earthquake impact is assessed by the
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, which describes the severity of damages from the event on a scale from I to XII,
with I being no damage and XII being complete destruction with no surviving structures. Building design, geography
and development indicators are important factors in earthquake vulnerability. The objectives of this review were to
describe the impact of earthquakes on the human population, in terms of mortality, injury, and displacement and to
identify country and event characteristics factors associated with these outcomes. This is one of five reviews on the
human impacts of natural disasters, the others being volcanoes, floods, tsunamis, and cyclones.
"There are 40 cities of a million or more people within [62 miles] of a major plate boundary, and all those are
good candidates for a large event. Our exposure to the hazard is increasing."Some experts suggest that in recent
decades, the world has experienced a lull in the most severe earthquakes -- those of magnitude 8.0 or greater. If so,
even more destruction is to be expected when the lull ends.Taiwan is shaken by dozens of quakes every year, caused by
the inexorable crush of two major tectonic plates that squeeze the island from the east and west at the relatively rapid
rate of several centimeters a year, building up seismic energy like the tension in a coiled spring.Tuesday's disaster in
Taiwan was the most recent in a series of damaging urban earthquakes in just over a decade.Devastating tremors killed
at least 16,000 people during a 7.4 earthquake in Turkey in August. At least 122 people died during a 5.8 temblor in
Athens, Greece, several weeks later. More than 6,400 people died in a 1995 quake in Kobe, Japan. The 1994
Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles and the 1987 Loma Prieta temblor near San Francisco were among the most
costly natural disasters in U.S. history.Millions of earthquakes occur around the world annually. Most are too small to
be felt. An average of 3,000 magnitude 5.0 quakes is recorded each year.
Deadliest tremors in the Philippines
Bohol earthquake 2013. A 7.2 tremor that killed more than 150 people, destroyed century-old and affected more than
3 million families in Central Visayas
Mindoro earthquake 1994. A total of 1250 houses in the coastal areas of Baco and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro were
swept away by a tsunami generated by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. The tragedy killed 78 people.
Casiguran earthquake 1968. A magnitude 7.3 earthquake that killed a total of 270 people and caused mass landslides
and tsunami in Casiguran Aurora. Almost 300 were also killed when the Ruby Tower in Binondo collapsed as a result
of the tremor.
Luzon Earthquake 1990. One of the strongest earthquake to over struck the country occurred in several areas of
Central Luzon and Cordillera Region. This resulted to a total 1621 deaths and serious damage in the properties.
Moro Gulf earthquake 1976. With a 7.9 magnitude and almost 3000 casualties. Almost 40000 people in region 9 and
12 were also left homeless by this tragedy.
Ring of fire
The top 15 countries in The Pacific Ring of Fire include:
1. Chile

2. Mexico

3. United States
4.Antarctic
5. Russia
6. Japan
7. Philippines
8. Japan
9. New Zealand
10. Papa New Guine
11.Indonesia
12.Canada
13.Peru
14.Taiwan
15.Gautemala
Earthquake-resistant structures are structures designed to withstand earthquakes. While no structure can be
entirely immune to damage from earthquakes, the goal of earthquake-resistant construction is to erect structures that
fare better during seismic activity than their conventional counterparts.
According to building codes, earthquake-resistant structures are intended to withstand the largest earthquake of
a certain probability that is likely to occur at their location. This means the loss of life should be minimized by
preventing collapse of the buildings for rare earthquakes while the loss of functionality should be limited for more
frequent ones.[1]
To combat earthquake destruction, the only method available to ancient architects was to build their landmark
structures to last, often by making them excessively stiff and strong, like the El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza.

Elements of seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes. elements are Elastic waves,Longitudinal waves, Transversal
waves seisogram,Seismographs,Observational Seismology, Engineering Seismology & macro Seismology.
Elastic waves- motion in a medium in which, when particles are displaced, a force proportional to the displacement acts
on the particles to restore them to their original position.
Longitudinal waves- onsisting of a periodic disturbance or vibration that takes place in the same direction as the
advance of the wave.
Transversal waves- motion in which all points on a wave oscillate along paths at right angles to the direction of the
waves advance. Surface ripples on water,

Earthquake records and measuring Instrument

The seismograph and the seismoscope are the two main instruments used to measure the strength of
earthquakes. The seismoscope is a simple instrument that measures the time that an earthquake takes place. The
seismograph records the motion of the ground during an earthquake. Seismographs, which generally consist of two
parts, a sensor of ground motion which we call a seismometer, and a seismic recording system.Seimometer are
instruments that measure motion of the ground, including those of seismic waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and other seismic sources. Accelelorographs can be referred to as a strong motion seismograph, or simply an
earthquake accelerometer. A seismogram is a visual record that is created by a seismograph. A seismograph is a piece
of equipment that records earthquake movements. These two items go hand in hand and are essential for the study of
earthquake.
Make a homemade seismograph with a few arts and crafts materials. Before beginning, gather together a
cardboard box, a plastic cup, some clay, some string, some small rocks, a piece of paper and a pair of scissors.
Remove flaps from the box
With the scissors, remove all the flaps from the top of the box. It should be completely open.
Poke holes in the plastic cup
With a round skewer or a screwdriver, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup. Then poke two holes opposite
one another along the cup's rim.
Secure the marker in the cup
Place the marker face-down through the bottom hole in the cup. Secure it in place with clay.
Poke holes in the box
Poke two holes next to each other in the bottom of the cardboard box.
String the cup to the box
Thread the string through the two holes in the rim of the cup. Tie the string through the holes in the box so that the cup
hangs level and the tip of the marker just touches the surface.
Add weight to the cup

Fill the cup with small rocks, marbles or other heavy objects.
Place paper underneath the marker
Place a piece of paper underneath the marker to record movement.

Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Cabanatuan City

A
Research Work
In
Eathquake Engineering

Submitted To:
Julius

Submitted By:
Mark Anthony L. Nama
BSCE-VB