In this article, we discuss the main causes of structural collapse during an earthquake and provide insights for civil engineers on how to design and construct structures that are resilient to seismic activity.

Oct 17, 2021 · Delamination of a shear wall to its adjacent floor slab can lead to catastrophic collapse of a building due to earthquakes. This was found to be a main reason why the CTV building collapsed in Christchurch during the 2011 earthquake experienced there. Lets take another look at the typical floor plate of the CTV building.

Feb 9, 2023 · Two major earthquakes - measuring 7.8 and 7.5 on the magnitude scale - flattened buildings of all kinds and killed thousands of people across southern Turkey and northern Syria. But the fact that...

Oct 31, 2022 · One of the main causes behind the collapse of buildings during an earthquake is the failure of the foundation. When the foundation is not able to withstand the seismic stresses imposed, it fails thereby causing the falling of the building.

Dec 31, 2024 · Discover why buildings collapse during earthquakes, the factors contributing to structural failure, and how to prevent them.

During an earthquake, seismic waves cause the ground to shake horizontally and vertically. These movements generate forces that buildings must endure. Structures not designed for such stress can succumb to these forces, leading to catastrophic failure.

Ground shaking is the primary cause of earthquake damage to man-made structures. Many factors influence the strength of earthquake shaking at a site including the earthquake's magnitude, the site's proximity to the fault, the local geology, and the soil type.

But why do buildings collapse in an earthquake? And how can it be prevented? Vicki V. May explains the physics of why it is not the sturdiest buildings, but the smartest, that will remain standing.

Jul 9, 2021 · Readers will learn what makes buildings in earthquake zones vulnerable, what can be done to design, build and maintain those buildings to reduce or eliminate that vulnerability, and what can be done to protect building occupants.

May 28, 2015 · Earthquakes kill, but their aftershocks can cause the rapid collapse of buildings left standing in the aftermath of the initial quake. Research offers a new approach to predicting which...