Originally published on Apr 12, 2024
How did the Lee Shinn Vision In Sky perform during last week's earthquake with its seismic isolators? Is there really a difference with seismic isolation buildings? Let's take a look at the actual situation of the skyscraper during the earthquake.
During an earthquake, seismic isolation buildings are not completely unaffected. Buildings designed with seismic isolation structures isolate seismic energy through seismic isolators installed below the building, extending the building's oscillation period, significantly reducing shear stress damage, altering the structural behavior during the earthquake into horizontal slow movements, reducing the intensity of the earthquake (by more than 60%), and minimizing damage to the building and personal safety.
After the earthquake, several skyscraper residents shared that their vases and decorations did not fall or get damaged, expressing their surprise at the power of seismic isolation.
In the video, we can clearly see the difference in shaking between the seismic isolation area and the non-seismic isolation area during the 403 earthquake, with the expansion cover plate cracking due to the intensity of the earthquake.
Japanese OILES seismic isolation devices showed remarkable effectiveness during the 403 earthquake. The action of the seismic isolator in the video shows that even with a near 40 cm displacement during the earthquake (displacement in a typical magnitude 2-3 felt earthquake is about 5 cm), the seismic isolator returned to its original position stably, effectively protecting the building structure. Post-earthquake inspections confirmed no damage to the building structure, validating the effectiveness of seismic isolation devices in earthquakes.
Furthermore, OILES seismic isolators demonstrated strong elasticity and tolerance after the earthquake. Factory tests showed that even after a displacement of up to 80 cm, the isolators could return smoothly without any deformation, highlighting the high quality and stability of OILES seismic isolation equipment.
Taiwan and Japan are both located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, regions where earthquakes occur frequently. Seismic isolation technology is well developed in Japan and has been proven effective in several major earthquakes, with no damage to seismic isolation buildings. Notably, seismic isolators can withstand frequent aftershocks following the main earthquake, continuously bearing seismic forces. Hence, the Japanese government is gradually converting important cultural heritage buildings into seismic isolation buildings, demonstrating the high level of importance placed on this technology.
Following the 403 earthquake, the Taiwan Matsuzawa team, along with professional construction colleagues, immediately conducted post-disaster inspection services for our cooperative projects. They conducted performance tests on seismic isolators, such as checking if the isolators returned to their initial state, if any bolts were loosened, and the integrity of the expansion cover plates. Thorough inspections were conducted for each seismic isolator to ensure optimal performance after the earthquake. A comprehensive inspection report will be provided to our cooperative partners. We understand that, in addition to the seismic isolator's ability to withstand earthquake disasters, professional and sustainable post-disaster services are equally important.
We do not welcome the occurrence of earthquakes, but we must remain vigilant to minimize disasters and ensure the safety of lives and property. Finally, we wish the people in the disaster area a swift return to their homes and a quick recovery to normal life.
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