From schools to airports, hospitals to bus stations, recreational facilities to corporate centers, infrastructure is everywhere and in everything. While infrastructure is imperative, we have to think about its safety and stability.
When infrastructure is not constructed effectively, it can collapse during seismic activities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and underground explosions. This is why it is crucial to test the safety and stability of all infrastructure facilities and must start focusing on seismic support to enhance stability.
Read on to understand the importance of seismic support in ensuring the safety and stability of infrastructure.
Understanding Seismic Support
A construction entity might be efficient in preparing infrastructures, though unfamiliar with the seismic risks associated with the infrastructure. In such a case, the construction firm can seek support from seismic experts. These experts can be brought in on an ad-hoc or permanent basis who know how to reduce the impact of disasters and prevent infrastructure from collapsing. It is the first-of-its-kind support for construction firms around the world.
Seismic support also refers to systems and structures used to reduce the impact of natural disasters on infrastructural facilities. If any building is constructed in an earthquake-prone area, it cannot be made without support structures. These support structures can be fitted into the building from scratch. One can also induce support structures into a building that is already finished. Without support structures, it is difficult to ensure the safety and stability of infrastructural facilities. If the construction firm does not know about the supporting structures, it can seek help from outside.
Understanding the Importance of Seismic Support
One cannot overlook the importance of seismic support for ensuring the stability and safety of infrastructural facilities. Construction firms in many jurisdictions must check the safety standards of the infrastructure.
Here’s why support structures are essential for infrastructures:
- Without support structures, it is not possible to ensure public safety as the infrastructure will be at risk of collapsing during a seismic event. The importance of support systems increases significantly in any jurisdiction prone to seismic events.
- Support structures also prevent commercial or monetary loss. When infrastructure collapses, it has to be constructed again. It involves more investment which could have been avoided.
- Support structures reduce the amount of investment required for repair and maintenance. In the face of seismic activity, losses can be humongous. Such support structures save precious money, allowing them to invest the same in installing more durable seismic support structures.
- Support structures make infrastructural facilities more resilient during and after seismic events. Since much damage will not be caused to a building during a seismic event, the basic functionalities will remain intact. It cannot happen without support structures, as the entire building is at the risk of collapsing.
Understanding Seismic Support Structures/Systems
Different types of structures increase the seismic resistance of the infrastructure. Individuals in the construction sector must know these support structures to improve the stability of the infrastructure. These are:
- Construction firms use base isolation to separate the base of the building from the remaining structure. Even though the building seems as a whole, the foundation and the top are constructed separately. It distributes the seismic force to different areas and reduces the chances of collapse.
- Construction firms use energy dissipation structures to distribute seismic energy. These structures can distribute and absorb seismic energy, thus lowering the chances of collapse.
- Bracing support systems are used to prevent localized damage during a seismic event. These structures separate the seismic force evenly across the entire infrastructure. Since a large amount of force is not applied to a particular area, localized damage is stopped.
- Retrofitting systems are actively used to improve the seismic resistance of infrastructures. It can include the addition of new support structures or redesigning existing structures. An existing building can be made strong with the help of retrofitting systems.
In a Nutshell
Seismic support is essential in today’s era to ensure the safety and stability of infrastructure. Without the support structures, a building might fail to withstand seismic activity. To avoid loss of life and property damage during a seismic event, support structures are essential. Seek support from seismic experts before starting construction.
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