Base Isolation

I believe there will be a number of items to consider before actually building a house for the after-time:

• It must probably be classified as a barn or a shed to get approval for walls without or with only few and small windows
• One story only
• Protection of windows and doors from winds and fire during the pole shift
• Construction of water pipes, electricity etc. to survive the quake
• Internal protection of furniture and stored goods during the quake

I want to use base isolation technology. There is only one problem: Since we have no earthquake activity in my part of the world, we have no knowledge of such technologies, nor is it possible currently to buy it here.

Offered by Jan.

I did a quick search in Infoseek, listing "base isolation technology" as the term. Six pages were brought back, the most promising one seeming to be the National Institute on Standards and Technology. It also includes a bibliography of materials that cover your area of interest. I wish you the best of luck in your research. Ultimately, your biggest challenge may not be finding the data and resources for construction design, but the bureaucracy that approves (or not) and does the inspections. Some of them in the US find the prospect of having to face new ideas as being quite threatening! Others are quite open to learning along with you.

Offered by Granville.

Some earth quake designs are to withstand at the most a 8 magnitude. Many are much less than that due to economics. Magnitude 8 is what most peoples concept of the biggest is. A magnitude 9 is 10 times stronger. A big difference. If one used an extra thick steel heavily reinforced concrete slab with a flat bottom sitting on a layer of sand on flat bed rock or hard thick clay base. Then, the slab will slide or role around on the small round particles of sand. Make sure the slab is thick enough to hold together if bouncing takes place. Attach the walls to the base very well so that each joint is as strong as the base or wall. Remember rounded surfaces are stronger than large flat surfaces, and that triangles are stronger than rectangles. Use lots of both.

Offered by Mike.