A research team at the Advanced Structural Engineering Lab, BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, has developed low-cost base isolation solutions.
Key Highlights
- One of the most effective techniques to protect buildings during earthquakes is base isolation, which reduces the impact of ground shaking by separating the structure from the moving earth.
- Base isolators refer to flexible pads or bearings used to separate a building’s structure from its foundation. These range from rubber bearings, friction bearings, ball bearings and spring systems, which help reduce damage to buildings during earthquakes.
- However, traditional base isolators are highly expensive, making them inaccessible to many, especially in rural and economically weaker regions, where resources for earthquake-resistant construction are limited.
- Proposed technologies include a non-reinforced elastomeric isolator that uses locally available rubber material, an easy-to-manufacture solution.
(Source: Business Line)
