Can All Metal Buildings Withstand An Earthquake?
In certain areas of the world, it is crucial to build structures to withstand the massive shock and damage associated with earthquakes. Unfortunately, science has not yet developed an early warning system that can give immediate notice when an earthquake is imminent. Thus, we are completely at nature’s mercy to survive an earthquake, and buildings must be built to withstand an earthquake at any time. Much research and study has been devoted to learning which types of structures fare best in an earthquake. Generally speaking the consensus is that metal buildings fare better than concrete. However, one might ask: does this mean that all metal buildings can withstand an earthquake? The answer is no. Just because a building is metal does not mean it will automatically do well in an earthquake. Metal structures are more likely to survive earthquakes because they are more ductile — they can bend and flex without breaking. This characteristic is crucial in a serious earthquake. The most comm
