An exploration of how architectural techniques for seismic safe
housing can help successfully rebuild structures in haiti both
cheaply and effectively.
why ?
Natural hazards are mostly impossible to predict, therefore
preventing the risks and effect are the next step .advancing
technology is allowing architects and engineering to improve
structures and reduce impacts during and after the hazard.
There is a growing need for these technologies because natural
hazards are becoming more frequent and greater in scale due
to effects of climate change.
Haiti.
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Haiti was 145th of 169 countries in the UN Human Development Index,
which is the lowest in the Western Hemisphere
86% of people in Port au Prince were living in slum conditions - mostly
tightly-packed, poorly-built, concrete buildings.
situated in between the north american plate and the caribbean plate.
haiti had a population of 10 million prior to the 2010 earthquake.
The 2010 Earthquake.
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222,750 dead
105,000 houses destroyed and 208,000 houses damaged
Around 5,000 schools destroyed (23% of the total of Haiti)
Displaced people in settlements up to 1.7 million
Total impact cost around USD 7.8 Billion = 2009 GDP
60% of hospitals destroyed
reasons why.
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earthquakes don't kill people. buildings kill people- poor infrastructure and
slum like conditions created an unsafe environment during the quake.
high population in urban areas caused a higher death rate due to unstable
high rise concrete buildings and minimal refuge space.
low income led to poorer housing.
corruption within government ment buildings often didnt meet building
regulations.
Initial Ideas For a Smaller Impact.
more open spaces:
● reduce the population density.
● schemes to improve wages
enable alternative housing for slum residences.
improve building quality:
● make sure buildings meet regulations.
● introduce earthquake resistant techniques
● schemes to improve wages.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques.
To combat earthquake destruction, the only method available to ancient
architects was to build their landmark structures to last, often by making them
excessively stiff and strong, like the El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques.
Base Isolation offsets the movement of a building to ‘bearings’ rather than the
actual building.
A variety of different types of base isolation bearing pads have now been
developed.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques.
One Japanese construction company has developed a six-foot cubicle shelter,
presented as an alternative to earthquake-proofing an entire building.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques.
Energy Dissipation Devices- Damping Devices and Bracing Systems
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a certain amount of vibration energy is transferred to the building by
earthquake ground motion. However, the capacity of buildings to dissipate
energy before they begin to suffer deformation and damage is quite limited.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques.
Earthquake Resistant Techniques
The strength and ductility of masonry walls in existing buildings can be improved
with carbon fiber or steel plate reinforcements, this can brace walls.