What are the basics for a earthquake prone building?

Question

This is for a stupid science project where we build a building out of spag. noodles and glue and it is tested on an earthquake simulator. thanks for your help.!!!

Answer 1

Here's an answer that comes from a class I took in structural engineering. Every building has a natural resonant frequency, ie, a frequency that it tends to oscillate at if it's shaken. It's just like a tuning fork, or the string of a violin. If an earthquake shakes the structure at a rate equal to its resonance, it will vibrate much more intensely, and be subject to more damage, that would be the case if the frequency were different. Also, I should point out, there are higher frequencies, called harmonics, which have a similar effect; however, they're not nearly as bad, and can often be ignored. It has been determined from experience that the very worst earthquakes tend to produce vibrations in the 2 to 4 Hz range, so the engineer designs a building so its natural resonant frequency falls outside this range. So here's a tip: Find out what frequency the earthquake simulator produces. Try to design your building so its resonate freq. is higher or lower than that. You'll have to think a bit about this, and be ingenious! The frequency can be calculated, but that involves solving some differential equations (I don't think you're ready for that, yet...)

Answer 2

The basics for a spaghetti structure will be bracing. Use cross braces every story and every direction. I would double brace also, i.e. make an X.

Answer 3

the building must have sufficient lateral rigidity, that is calculated by certain formulas using rules of Strength of Material, or Structural Analysis... and this lateral rigidity is obtained by using either rigid frames ( like most common concrete structures) or bracing(mostly in still constructions) or by using shear walls..