Constructing Earthquake-resistant Structures in India: Know How

MSP Steel
Apr 23, 2019
2 min read

India isn’t alien to the destructive effects of earthquakes. In the past few decades, our land has been shaken by several catastrophic earthquakes. Many Indian cities are under high earthquake risk, Kolkata, Greater Mumbai, Lucknow, Asansol, Indore, Chennai, Bhubaneswar to name a few.

The extent of damage caused by seismic activities depends majorly on construction practices followed in the area of impact. Incompetent designs make buildings very vulnerable to earthquakes. That’s why the Indian government has implemented strict codes to be followed during construction; ensuring buildings in earthquake-prone areas are more resistant to seismic activities.

Below we’ve charted down some recommendations from national building codes to go by for the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings:

Light and Flexible

To increase resistance to earthquakes, buildings need to be light and flexible. Seismic energy amplifies with height and mass of a structure. Hence, always opt for light-weight construction materials, which help absorbing and distributing the seismic energy. This simple practice greatly improves chances that the building won’t crumble down.

Bend Without Breaking

The key to make earthquake-resistant buildings is to use materials that are can flex without breaking. Such materials increase the shock absorbing properties of the building, allowing it to tolerate intense seismic tremors. For this, TMT bars are the go-to construction material. TMT bar manufacturing process is such that these steel bars develop a soft inner core surrounded by a strong exterior and also have high elongation point. Hence, they are excellent shock absorbers.

MSP Steel offers high-quality TMT bars in India, which is the best way to secure buildings against earthquakes.

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