March Extra Post: USArray Ground Motion Visualization

USArray Ground Motion Visualization look at the recorded seismic waves amplitude from each seismometer location show how seismic waves travel from earthquakes. There are different colors which represents different symbols on each recorded seismic wave amplitude. The colors determine the vertical ground motion coming from the seismic amplitude waves. In this video it mostly shows the seismic wave amplitudes in red and blue. The color red represents upward ground motion, while the color blue represents downward motion. The USArray Ground Motion Visualization is an important source specifically for my answer 2 of my EQ. My answer 2 explains how the effect of seismic analyses better design a building for earthquake resistance. One of my details in my answer 2 is ground motion maps. I didn't fully understand or a solid source of ground motion maps, which is why the USArray Ground Motion Visualization provided me a better illustration on how ground motion maps are utilized.

Blog 18: Third Answer

EQ: How can a structural engineer best design a building for earthquake resistance?

Answer #3 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

Following all the details in the ASCE 7 code will help provide a basic model in designing earthquake resistance buildings.

3 details to support the answer (a detail is a fact and an example)

Basic Seismic Design Criteria: A list of requirements of a basic seismic design to resist earthquake loads. These requirements can go all the way from types of frames, flexibility structures, deformation, building systems, different types of structures specialized to resist earthquakes etc. Ex: Basic Seismic Design Criteria states, under the frame category, that there needs to be a space frame system to support vertical loads coming from an earthquake.

Seismic Isolation: Seismic Isolation helps stabilize a building from an earthquake's movements. Ex: There four requirements regard seismic isolation: increasing a building's resistance and displacement, limiting an earthquakes degradation, having effective stiffness/dampness, and stabilizing a building from earthquake displacements.

Nonbuilding Structures: Nonbuilding structures are exactly what they mean. They are structures that may or may not be similar to building structures and are typically designed for architectural, electrical or mechanical purposes. However, they are also designed to resist gravity/lateral and seismic loads. Ex: ASCE 7 code has listed requirements in the identification of nonbuilding structures: engines, elevators, tanks, conveyors, etc.

The research source (s) to support your details and answer

 Source ID #: 35, Dowty, Susan. "Seismic Design Provisions of ASCE 7-10: Changes from ASCE 7-05." SE News. Structural Engineer, Nov. 2011. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.

Source ID #: 39, Dowty, Susan. "Is It a Nonstructural Component or a Nonbuilding Structure?" STRUCTUREmag., July 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Source ID #: 36, Nikolaou, Sissy. "Site-Specific Seismic Studies for Optimal Structural Design." STRUCTUREmag., Feb. 2008. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.

Concluding Sentence

ASCE 7 code contains a list of details, including some of the other two answers of my EQ, that are required in designing a building for earthquake resistance.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview

1.      What are different methods to reduce loads that affect buildings?

2.      How does building code ASCE 7 have an effect on earthquake resistance?

3.      What are the differences between a building with more earthquake resistance and a building with less earthquake resistance?

4.      What do you recommend is the best isolator for earthquake resistance?

5.      How do you incorporate earthquake time history analysis in the buildings you have designed?

6.      What do you think is the best way to measure seismic activity?

7.      What do you believe is the best structure element for buildings to have for earthquake resistance?

8.      Besides seismic analysis, and structures, what are other ways for an engineer to make the best building design for earthquake resistance?

9.      Can you give me an example of how equivalent static analysis has benefited a building in earthquake resistance?

10.  Can you give me an example of how equivalent dynamic analysis has benefited a building in earthquake resistance?

11.  What structures do you recommend to make structures have more limber features?

12.  What other building codes have a strong impact on earthquake resistance?

13.  What do you recommend is the best software structural engineers use to test their buildings with earthquakes?

14.  What are other methods in which building can absorb the force an earthquake?

15.  Besides the foundation of the building, what other parts of a building can contribute in more earthquake resistance?

16.  Have you ever done any sort of seismic analyses on buildings? How did these seismic analyses provide earthquake resistance to a building?

17.  Besides limber and sturdy features, what other features provide a building with more earthquake resistance?

18.  What are the recent changes in earthquake resistant structures in which you had to incorporate in your buildings?

19.  What type of role does the soil beneath the building have in earthquake resistance?

20.  Can you name and explain which buildings have the most effective earthquake resistant structures and why?