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Expert: - 1/11/2010


Question
I have heard that in japan rubber can be used  as a shock absorber in case of an earthquake. My question is in case the building is framed does the reinforcement pass through the rubber and 2. Is the rubber strong enough to support the weight of a building for over 100 years? THANKs

Answer
Hi Godfrey,

There are 2 ways that rubber can be used to mitigate effects of earthquakes:

1. As visco-elastic absorbers between X-bracing and frames, which increase the damping.
2. As base-isolators between the bottom of the building and the foundations cast on soil/rock.

In both cases, rebar does not normally go through, but the rubber may be reinforced itself by plates of steel, to form a plywood type of sandwich bearing like those used in bridges, which is very strong/stiff in vertical direction, but has flexibility in lateral direction.

Check out these websites:

http://nisee.berkeley.edu/lessons/kelly.html

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/earthquakes/4/4  

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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