What are the precautions needed to build a safe structure in a seismic situation ?

To design structures that can withstand earthquakes, engineers must understand the stresses caused by shaking. To this end, scientists and engineers place instruments in structures and nearby on the ground to measure how the structures respond during an earthquake to the motion of the ground beneath. Every time a strong earthquake occurs, the new information gathered enables engineers to refine and improve structural designs and building codes. In1984 the magnitude6.2 Morgan Hill, California, earthquake shook the West Valley College campus,20 miles away. Instruments in the college gymnasium showed that its roof was so flexible that in a stronger or closer earthquake the building might be severely damaged, threatening the safety of occupants. At that time, these flexible roof designs were permitted by the Uniform Building Code (a set of standards used in many states). Many industrial facilities nationwide were built with such roofs.

We cannot make any structure seismic proof, however we can attempt to design the structures as earthquake resistant. Earthquake resistant structures gives ample time of evacuation so the human lives can be saved. There are many structural framing systems as per UBC1997, which can be adopted as per actual conditions / actual parameters.

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