Types of Structures to Prevent Damage from an Earthquake

Foundation Anchoring

• Foundation bolting is a means of protecting a structure from earthquake damage. This technique may be applied when the building is under construction, or applied retroactively as needed. The bolts are placed between the sill, a piece of wood that lies on top of the foundation, and the concrete. Proper placement of these bolts provides added durability to a structure, which makes them able to move with the shaking of the earthquake. Bolting may be done using expansion foundation bolts or epoxy-set bolts. Expansion bolts are less costly, but require concrete that is in better condition than the epoxy-set variety. Epoxy-set bolts may be settled more deeply into the concrete, providing a more durable structure.

Pile Foundation

• Pile foundations are embedded deeper into the ground than a standard foundation. This system is used on buildings, bridges, dams and a number of other large structures. The pile is embedded past the soil into the bedrock, making it especially useful when building on loose soil in quake-prone areas. Several of these structures -- the exact number of which will vary depending on the size of the building -- are sunk into the bedrock, distributing the weight of the building, making it more able to withstand the swaying that occurs during an earthquake. The top and bottom ends of the pile are both anchored, one to the structure, the other to the bedrock, to increase stability.

Reinforced Building

• Modern building methods and materials aid in reinforcing a building against earthquake damage. These methods include techniques for retrofitting existing structures as well as improved materials for new construction. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, current engineering research is focused on creating high performance concrete and steel, as well as reinforced plastics and composites. These products are meant to increase building strength and durability so they can withstand the shaking and swaying of an earthquake. Specific stiffness and specific weight, according to MIT, are combined with environmental durability to make these materials better than standard building materials.

Base Isolation

• Base isolation requires a two-platform design to increase resistance to earthquake damage. These platforms are tiered, one larger than the other, with the building built onto the top, smaller platform. The larger platform is embedded in bedrock to absorb the majority of a quake's energy and motion. The smaller platform doesn't move, helping to keep the building from becoming damaged.