VICTORIA — A new structural system developed by UBC researchers helps highrise buildings withstand major earthquakes.
Led by Dr. Tony Yang, a structural engineering professor in UBC’s faculty of applied science, the research team built a scale model of a typical 30-storey Vancouver highrise.
The model was subjected to intense earthquake simulations at the International Joint Research Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering (ILEE) in Shanghai, explains a release. This is one of the few facilities in the world equipped with a “shake table” large enough to test tall buildings.
Researchers tested the structure with more than 100 simulated earthquakes of different types and magnitudes, including large-magnitude and long-duration shaking, similar to what might occur in the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the B.C. coast.
The new structural system equipped with high-performance dampers remained intact and fully functional after strong shaking.
It essentially works by using a combination of rocking foundations, outriggers and dampers that allow the building to “rock” and absorb earthquake energy, instead of resisting it rigidly, which helps prevent structural damage, the release explains.
“Because the structure is designed to move and stabilize itself, it puts less stress on the concrete core and foundation,” it adds. “This allows for lighter construction and more usable space inside the building — making it both more resilient and cost-effective.”
Some of the dampers were developed and tested at UBC, including a patented design unique to the university. All performed well in the tests.
The UBC experiment tested the largest model of a concrete-core structure ever placed on a shake table.
“At this scale, we can realistically simulate how a full-sized building behaves during an earthquake, giving us solid data for future construction,” said Dr. Yang.
While the system is not yet in use in Canada, Dr. Yang’s team plans to work with engineering firms and community partners to bring it to residential and commercial projects.
“We’ve demonstrated that highrise buildings can be designed to remain safe and damage-free after major quakes, using cost-effective and smarter systems. This approach can help improve the resilience of highrises in earthquake-prone regions around the world,” said Dr. Yang.
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