Earthquake Resilient Sustainable Lightweight Steel Buildings

 Earthquake Resilient Sustainable Lightweight Steel Buildings


STRUCTURAL STEEL is a very ductile material with high strength carrying capacity, thus it is very useful to make earthquake resistant buildings. It is a homogeneous material also. The member sections and the structural systems can be made very efficient for economical design. As the steel is recyclable and reused it is a green material. The embodied energy for the efficiently designed steel structure is less than the RC structure. For sustainable green building steel is the best material nowadays. Moreover, pre-engineered and pre-fabricated faster construction methodologies help the development work to complete within the stipulated time.

In old days wooden buildings were made in highly earthquake prone areas for its low weight. With the recent advancement of steel industry if we can make these type of buildings using square hollow sections/rectangular hollow sections, steel plated/wooden floors and puffed panel walling systems then it will be more strong and lightweight also. These types of buildings are green, sustainable and eco-friendly. It is found that wind forces developed in the structural members are greater than the seismic forces generated in the same. Because of low mass seismic forces are not generated despite of heavy ground acceleration. Proper steel bracing systems are provided vertically and horizontally for stability of the structure. The production of new structural hollow members, chequered plates, puffed/sandwiched panels have created a new era in building industry making it more sustainable in all respect.

Stability of the steel structures against horizontal forces especially in seismic condition is efficiently possible by Eccentric bracing systems with economic connection details. The EBF is pin – ended, but the beam – column joints are designed for pin ended or for full connectivity. The EBF has several desirable features for seismic resistance. In comparison with CBF system, EBF system can be designed for appropriate stiffness and drift control. The link beam is designed to yield in shear or flexure prior to initiation of yielding or buckling of the bracing member in tension or compression. It is observed that the EBF system is better than MRF system comparing the time period of vibration and base shear participation. The main beams and columns are made of wide flange rolled sections for economical lightweight design.

Dr. Arup Saha Chaudhuri 

Professor, Techno Main Salt Lake

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