A building stood tall during the devastating earthquake in Venezuela. From the outside, the building looked badly damaged, but it was actually a remarkable feat of structural engineering.
Because the building did not collapse and saved countless lives. Three important structural engineering principles were at work behind this feat.
Crumple zone effect: The building bent and cracked to absorb the energy of the earthquake, much like a car breaks to protect its occupants in a crash.
Strong column-weak beam: The beams were designed to break first, so that the columns remained intact and the building did not collapse.
Flexibility vs. rigidity: A flexible building stands tall even if it cracks, but a rigid building collapses.
Ultimately, not all buildings can be saved in a major earthquake. However, the application of proper engineering knowledge ensures that people inside can safely exit the building.
And we must move forward with technological advantage!
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