The Role of Structural Engineering in Earthquake-Resistant Design

India lies on two tectonic plates (the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate), which makes it prone to frequent earthquakes of different magnitudes. Around 15,600 earthquakes were recorded in 2023.

Divisions based on their magnitude;

Magnitude 6.0-6.9: 128
Magnitude 5.0-5.9: 1,637
Magnitude 4.0-4.9: 13,816

Experts believe the rise in earthquakes in 2023 was due to the activation of the Almora fault in Western Nepal.

[Almora Fault: It is a tectonic plate that separates the outer lesser and inner Himalayas in western Nepal.]

Earthquakes cause massive losses, including financial, human, and wildlife. Given the higher frequency of seismic activities in India (mostly in the Himalayan region), we require earthquake-resistant structures, and engineers with specialisation in structural engineering can play a crucial role in this.

Students with BTech Civil Engineering specialising in structural engineering from top universities like Manipal University Jaipur can make a difference. Advanced curriculum, projects, and practical exposure through internships prepare civil engineers at MUJ to design earthquake-resistant structures and prepare a resilient India with minimum impact of tectonic movement.

Are you interested in making a difference? In the following sections of the blog, we will discuss the role of structural engineering in preparing earthquake-resistant designs. In the latter half of the passage, we will also share a brief introduction to BTech Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) at MUJ for the aspiring change-makers of India.

What is Structural Engineering?

Structural engineering is a subset of civil engineering. The best universities of Rajasthan offer this as a separate course or a specialisation with a BTech Civil Engineering. Structural engineers design ‘bones and muscles’ of man-made structures. These engineering professionals are also responsible for measuring the resilience of load-bearing structures to withstand high winds, earthquakes, and other natural calamities.

The curriculum of structural engineering deals with the designing framework of bridges, buildings, towers, stadiums, monuments, tunnels, and almost every component of the world’s-built environment. Structural engineers use learnings of mathematics, physics, and empirical knowledge focusing on sustainability goals to design and prepare safe and stable structures.

Industries with a high demand for structural engineers are;

Construction
Oil, Gas and Other Heavy Industries
Infrastructure Consulting

Here are techniques and materials structural engineers use to make earthquake-resistant structures.

4 Techniques to Prepare Earthquake-Resistant Design

Earthquakes release energy that pushes structures from one direction. Earthquake-resistant designs focus on preparing buildings that push the opposite way, withstand stress, and are ductile enough to bend without breaking. Btech in civil engineering teaches four major techniques to prepare strategies to counteract the impact of earthquakes.

Here are four techniques every structural engineer must know.

1) Create a Flexible Foundation

Base isolation is one method for creating a flexible foundation, where civil engineers design the building’s foundation above the ground. It helps to resist ground forces and is built upon flexible steel, lead pads, and rubber. In the event of an earthquake, seismic waves are absorbed in the isolators, restricting them from moving through the building, and the structure stays steady.

2) Counter Forces with Shock Absorbers

BTech Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) students learn to use vibrational control devices and pendulum power as shock absorbers to minimise the magnitude of the shockwaves and reduce the pressure on the structure.

3) Shield Buildings from Vibrations

Structure engineers and researchers believe that instead of counteracting seismic waves, we can deflect and reroute them all together for safe and steady buildings. This innovative method is known as the ‘seismic invisibility cloak.’ It involves developing a cloak of 100 concentric plastic and concrete rings and burying it at least 3 feet beneath the building foundation.

Upon encountering the ring system, seismic waves are guided outward due to the reduced impedance of the outer rings. This deflection effectively diverts the energy away from the building, dissipating it harmlessly into the surrounding ground.

4) Reinforce the Building’s Structure

Redistribution of waves and pressure during an earthquake can help buildings withstand collapse or damage of various magnitudes. Structural engineers with a BTech Civil Engineering prefer the following elements to reinforce a building and redistribute seismic waves.

Shear walls
Cross braces
Diaphragms
Moment-resisting frames

Earthquake-Resistant Materials

Steel and Timber with high ductility can resist or bend without breaking during stress and vibration.
Shape memory alloys for enduring heavy strain and the ability to revert to their original shape
Fibre-reinforced plastic wrap is an innovative material that engineers use to add elasticity and strength to columns and pillars by wrapping around them. These wraps can be made of different polymers.
Sustainable building materials like mussel rigid fibres, spider silk with a high strength-to-size ratio, bamboo, and 3D-printed construction materials have excellent resistance potential and help reinforce buildings.
Structural engineers from the best universities of Rajasthan, like Manipal University Jaipur, learn to design structures using sustainable products during projects, internships, and live sessions.

Structural Engineering at Manipal University Jaipur

Manipal University Jaipur offers BTech Civil Engineering with specialisation in Structural Engineering and MTech (Structural Engineering). Here are key highlights of Btech in civil engineering that make MUJ one of the best universities in Rajasthan.

Guest lectures from construction industry experts
Site visits for practical exposure for BTech Civil Engineering students
Option to choose a full-time internship in the industry throughout the eight semesters or may be involved in lab work
Industry and academia collaboration (more than 100 national and international partnerships) helps students learn about new and innovative research in structural engineering and other aspects of civil engineering.
Highly qualified and industry-experienced faculty with a commendable ambience for research and diverse & inclusive campus culture
Manipal University Jaipur allows lateral entry and scholarships (more than 10 crore worth of scholarships) and provides career guidance through a placement cell.
Recognitions and accreditations from UGC, AICTE, NBA Accredited, NIRF Rankings 2024 (Engineering 64), UGC and more
Atal Incubation Centre for encouraging entrepreneurship.

Manipal University Jaipur, with a legacy of over 71 years, provides exceptional growth prospects and in-depth academic knowledge. Explore and apply now.

Reference List

https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/structural-engineering