18-08-2016, 06:10 PM
19-08-2016, 09:12 AM
Disasters are unexpected events which have adversely affected humans since the dawn of our
existence. In response to such events, there have been attempts to mitigate devastating effects of these disasters.
Results of such attempts are very encouraging in developed countries but unfortunately and miserably poor in
developing countries including ours. Earthquakes are one of the nature’s greatest hazards on our planet which
have taken heavy toll on human life and property since ancient times . The sudden and unexpected nature of the
earthquake event makes it even worse on psychological level and shakes the moral of the people. Man looks
upon the mother earth for safety and stability under his feet and when it itself trembles, the shock he receives is
indeed unnerving. Mitigation of the devastating damage caused by earthquakes is of prime requirements in
many parts of the world. Since earthquakes are so far unpreventable and unpredictable, the only option with us
is to design and build the structures which are earthquake resistant. Accordingly attempts have been made in this
direction all over the world. Results of such attempts are very encouraging in developed countries but miserably
poor in developing countries including our country India. This is proved by minimal damage generally without
any loss of life when moderate to severe earthquake strikes developed countries, where as even a moderate
earthquake cause’s wide spread devastation in developing countries as has been observed in recent earthquakes.
It is not the earthquake which kills the people but it is the unsafe buildings which is responsible for the wide
spread devastation. Keeping in view the huge loss of life and property in recent earthquakes, it has become a hot
topic worldwide and lot of research is going on to understand the reasons of such failures and learning useful
lessons to mitigate the repetition of such devastation. If buildings are built earthquake resistant at its first place
(as is being done in developed countries like USA, Japan etc) the devastation caused by earthquakes will be
mitigated most effectively. The professionals involved in the design/construction of such structures are
structural/civil engineers, who are responsible for building earthquake resistant structures and keep the society
at large in a safe environment.
Understanding of earthquake and Basic Terminology
Earthquake is defined as a sudden ground shaking caused by the release of huge stored strain energy at the
interface of the tectonic plates
Epicenter:-It is the point on the free surface of the earth vertically above the place of origin of an earthquake.
Focus:-It is the point within the earth from where the seismic waves originate.
existence. In response to such events, there have been attempts to mitigate devastating effects of these disasters.
Results of such attempts are very encouraging in developed countries but unfortunately and miserably poor in
developing countries including ours. Earthquakes are one of the nature’s greatest hazards on our planet which
have taken heavy toll on human life and property since ancient times . The sudden and unexpected nature of the
earthquake event makes it even worse on psychological level and shakes the moral of the people. Man looks
upon the mother earth for safety and stability under his feet and when it itself trembles, the shock he receives is
indeed unnerving. Mitigation of the devastating damage caused by earthquakes is of prime requirements in
many parts of the world. Since earthquakes are so far unpreventable and unpredictable, the only option with us
is to design and build the structures which are earthquake resistant. Accordingly attempts have been made in this
direction all over the world. Results of such attempts are very encouraging in developed countries but miserably
poor in developing countries including our country India. This is proved by minimal damage generally without
any loss of life when moderate to severe earthquake strikes developed countries, where as even a moderate
earthquake cause’s wide spread devastation in developing countries as has been observed in recent earthquakes.
It is not the earthquake which kills the people but it is the unsafe buildings which is responsible for the wide
spread devastation. Keeping in view the huge loss of life and property in recent earthquakes, it has become a hot
topic worldwide and lot of research is going on to understand the reasons of such failures and learning useful
lessons to mitigate the repetition of such devastation. If buildings are built earthquake resistant at its first place
(as is being done in developed countries like USA, Japan etc) the devastation caused by earthquakes will be
mitigated most effectively. The professionals involved in the design/construction of such structures are
structural/civil engineers, who are responsible for building earthquake resistant structures and keep the society
at large in a safe environment.
Understanding of earthquake and Basic Terminology
Earthquake is defined as a sudden ground shaking caused by the release of huge stored strain energy at the
interface of the tectonic plates
Epicenter:-It is the point on the free surface of the earth vertically above the place of origin of an earthquake.
Focus:-It is the point within the earth from where the seismic waves originate.