New shock absorption system developed for highrises to endure big earthquakes
A team of researchers at University of British Columbia have developed a new design for highrises that could help tall buildings withstand major earthquakes, while keeping people safe inside.
Led by structural engineering professor Tony Yang at UBC's faculty of applied science, the project aims to prepare cities like Vancouver for the "big one."
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"We are expected to have very large earthquakes," Yang said.
Traditional highrise designs rely on a rigid concrete core, which typically place elevators and stairwells inside the central core. But the new system, the researcher says, allows buildings to move and absorb energy through dampers, outriggers and rocking foundations, rather than resist the shaking rigidly.
"These are like the shock absorbers in your car," he said.
Led by Tony Yang, a structural engineering professor in UBC’s faculty of applied science, the new structural system aims to help high-rise buildings withstand major earthquakes and keep both the building and its occupants safe. (UBC Faculty of Applied Science)
"The design philosophy for the traditional system is to protect the people who live inside, but not the status of the building afterwards," he added.
"[With the new system] the owner can feel confident that the building, its occupants and its contents are protected during and after significant shaking."
Earthquake simulations
The system was tested at the International Joint Research Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering in Shanghai, China, a facility with a large enough "shake table" to simulate a full-scale, magnitude-9 earthquake.
Researchers say UBC's one-fifth scale model remained fully functional after more than 100 simulated quakes.
One of the custom-built dampers used in the experiment, designed to help dissipate seismic energy in high-rise buildings. (UBC Smart Structures Lab)
According to Yang, the system allows for lighter construction and more usable space inside the building, making it both more resilient and cost-effective.
"In traditional construction, [builders] put a lot of reinforcement inside central concrete, putting money and labour into it," he said, explaining that the new design philosophy puts less stress on the concrete core and foundation.
He says it may offer long-term savings by reducing the need for large foundations or post-quake repairs, making the new design "much cheaper" to use.
According to a report released by the City of Vancouver last November, modelling suggests a magnitude 7.2 earthquake would cause significant damage to many aging, privately owned buildings — the majority of which are rental properties.
While the new system is aimed at new construction, Yang said it could also be incorporated into some older buildings — though the process would be more complex.
Brent Toderian, Vancouver's former chief planner, says any advancement that makes concrete buildings safer is important — but says builders need to shift toward greener materials.
A team of researchers, including UBC structural engineering professor Tony Yang, stands in front of their high-rise model at a testing facility in Shanghai, where they conducted large-scale earthquake simulations. (UBC Smart Structures Lab)
"Concrete has a large carbon footprint," he told CBC News. "We are in the process of this hopefully continuous transition to more sustainable building materials."
Toderian pointed to mass timber as a renewable and climate-conscious alternative, and said long-term planning should account for both safety and environmental impact.
City of Vancouver Coun. Lisa Dominato said the city is interested in learning more about the research and its potential applications.
"We anticipate more density and development in the future," Dominato said. "If we can benefit from that technology, and the research is happening at UBC, I think it's a good thing for the city."
Looking ahead, Yang says he hopes to work with engineering firms and local governments to explore integrating the design into new building projects.
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Thumbnail courtesy of UBC Smart Structures Lab via CBC News.
The story was originally written by and published for CBC News. It contains files from Renée Lukacs, Shaurya Kshatri and Radio-Canada.