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> designed to survive extreme earthquakes What magnitude is that? (The highest they're designed to survive)
by cutemonster 5y ago
> designed to survive extreme earthquakes
What magnitude is that? (The highest they're designed to survive)
- jandrewrogers 5y agoThe modern building codes are derived from a 9.0 subduction zone model. I've heard people say that building standards derived from this model should work for just about any type of earthquake up to around 8.0-8.5 even if not specifically modeled; I have no idea how true that is but it seems plausible. Building codes are not defined just by the strength of the earthquake but also the earthquake type, depth, soil etc. It isn't the strength that is the problem so much as the kinds of loads different earthquakes put on structures. Seattle has a couple ~7.0 earthquakes every century, so the city has experience with strong earthquakes and everything old that is still standing has at least some ability to resist earthquakes (survivor bias). The last big earthquake was in 2001 (magnitude 6.8).
- cutemonster 5y agoThanks! > isn't the strength that is the problem so much as the kinds of loads different earthquakes put on structures. Interesting, didn't know.