Earthquake Resilient Buildings in San Francisco

As a 17-year-old high school student living in the Bay Area, I have experienced the impact of earthquakes firsthand. This personal experience includes participating in drills, learning about historical earthquakes, and even moving out of our house near the coast on the San Andreas Fault line in San Francisco due to concerns about flooding and other potential dangers. These experiences inspired me to design a house with an earthquake-resistant base and additional protections against flooding. Given the high seismic activity and proximity to water in San Francisco, it was the perfect location for a more realistic and personal approach to building a resilient habitat in an extreme environment.

Autodesk Fusion 360

To ensure my design would be effective and sustainable, I conducted extensive research on the Bay Area's geological and climatic conditions. I delved into historical earthquake data, studied soil composition, and analyzed flood patterns. Additionally, I reviewed existing building codes and standards related to earthquake and flood resilience. This research was crucial in laying a strong foundation for my design decisions, ensuring both safety and compliance with local regulations.

With a clear understanding of the environmental challenges, I began brainstorming ideas for a resilient house. My key focus was on developing a detailed foundation capable of withstanding seismic forces and elevated structures to protect against flooding. I also considered using sustainable materials and incorporating energy-efficient systems. Initial sketches and preliminary models helped me visualize and refine my ideas before moving on to detailed modeling.

The core of my design is the earthquake-resistant foundation, inspired by vehicle suspension systems that minimize road vibrations. The anti-vibration box features springs mounted in four horizontal positions and a main spring in the vertical position at the center, capable of holding up to one tonne. This setup allows the springs to absorb and minimize vibrations from seismic activity.

The anti-vibration box needs to be mounted on a concrete base to ensure stability and durability. Concrete is a crucial material for this application due to its strength and ability to withstand heavy loads and harsh environmental conditions. By using concrete, the foundation can effectively support the anti-vibration boxes and distribute the load of the building evenly.

This foundations is great because it can be simply upscaled to fit any house in the diverse neighborhoods of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a general fix that can be implemented in houses TODAY, and cut earthquake insurance costs.

The earthquake-resistant foundation is inspired by vehicle suspension systems that minimize road vibrations. The anti-vibration box is equipped with springs mounted in four horizontal positions and a central main spring in the vertical position, capable of supporting up to one tonne. This innovative design ensures that the springs absorb and reduce seismic vibrations effectively. The anti-vibration box is mounted on a concrete base, and the building’s total load is distributed across multiple boxes, spaced approximately every three meters, depending on the building size. Concrete is an essential material for this foundation because of its high compressive strength, durability, and ability to anchor the anti-vibration boxes securely. It ensures that the boxes remain stable and effective in absorbing seismic energy. A closed loop of steel beams is placed on top of these boxes to provide a stable base for the building floor, which can be constructed from wood or preformed concrete. Maintenance and load updates can be easily managed by removing the box from the top of the concrete base. In the event of an earthquake, ground vibrations are absorbed by the springs in the anti-vibration box, as the center of the box is not in contact with the external casing and concrete base. This design significantly reduces the impact of seismic activity on the structure, enhancing its resilience and safety.

The anti-vibration box works by isolating the building from ground movements. When an earthquake occurs, the ground vibrates, but the springs inside the anti-vibration box absorb these vibrations. The central spring, which supports the load of the building, is not in direct contact with the external casing and concrete base. This design ensures that the seismic energy is dissipated through the springs, minimizing the vibrations transmitted to the building structure.

This technology is akin to base isolation, a common technique in earthquake engineering. Base isolators, such as the ones designed in my project, are used to decouple the building from ground motion, reducing the seismic forces acting on the structure. By allowing the building to move independently of the ground, the isolators absorb and dissipate energy, protecting the structural integrity of the building.

Participating in the Make it Resilient Challenge has been an enlightening experience. This was my first time using Autodesk Fusion 360, as my previous 3D modeling experience was limited to Blender. Despite the learning curve, I found Autodesk's tools incredibly powerful for designing a house resilient to extreme environments like earthquakes and floods. 

Embracing the unique surroundings of extreme environments can significantly enhance human well-being. By leveraging natural resources such as solar and wind energy, and adapting architectural designs to local conditions, we can create habitats that are not only resilient but also enriching. For instance, my earthquake-resistant foundation, inspired by vehicle suspension systems, utilizes anti-vibration technology to minimize seismic impact, ensuring safety and stability.

Through this project, I learned the importance of resilient infrastructure and a community-centric design approach. Understanding local challenges and incorporating sustainable practices like renewable energy and eco-friendly materials can greatly improve the built environment in my community. This experience has reinforced the value of continuous learning and adaptation, encouraging me to advocate for innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance safety and well-being in our communities.