02-28-2010, 01:17 PM
The damages from an earthquake depend mostly from the effective acceleration on the surface, the duration of the earthquake, and of course the "quality" of the buildings. It is not easy to compare effects of earthquakes with different depths, distances, and ground parameters, even if they have the same magnitude.
I think that always the most interesting from engineering point of view question is: Why this structure failed, and the other one still stands up? And the question itself shows that it is possible to make the things better! And it is sad to see new structures, designed by "modern engineers with computers", build with better materials, and brought to ruins next to undamaged old ones.
Take those RC bridges on the pictures - what a catastrophe! The same happened during Loma Preita's and during Kobe's earthquakes, and everybody knows that these bridges sometimes cost like hundreds of buildings.
I think that always the most interesting from engineering point of view question is: Why this structure failed, and the other one still stands up? And the question itself shows that it is possible to make the things better! And it is sad to see new structures, designed by "modern engineers with computers", build with better materials, and brought to ruins next to undamaged old ones.
Take those RC bridges on the pictures - what a catastrophe! The same happened during Loma Preita's and during Kobe's earthquakes, and everybody knows that these bridges sometimes cost like hundreds of buildings.