Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a new structural system that helps high-rise buildings withstand major earthquakes, keeping both the buildings and their occupants safe.

Led by Dr. Tony Yang, a structural engineering professor with UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science, the research team built a scale model of a typical 30-storey Vancouver high-rise. The team then subjected the model to intense earthquake simulations at the International Joint Research Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering (ILEE) in Shanghai. The Shanghai lab is one of the few facilities in the world equipped with a “shake table” sizeable enough to test large-scale models of tall buildings under realistic conditions.

“At this scale, we can realistically simulate how a full-sized building behaves during an earthquake, giving us solid data for future construction,” said Dr. Yang.

Researchers tested the structure with more than 100 simulated earthquakes of different types and magnitudes, including large-magnitude and long-duration shaking—similar to what might occur in the Cascadia Subduction Zoneoff the B.C. coast.

In the shake table test, the new structural system remained intact and fully functional.

The UBC system uses a combination of rocking foundations, outriggers and high-performance dampers that allow the building to “rock” and absorb earthquake energy instead of resisting it rigidly, preventing structural damage.

Some of the dampers were developed and tested at UBC, including a patented design unique to the university. All performed well in testing.

“The owner can feel confident that the building and its occupants and contents are protected during and after significant shaking,” said Dr. Yang, who leads UBC’s Smart Structures Lab.

Because the structure is designed to move and stabilize itself, there is less stress on the concrete core and foundation during an earthquake. This also allows for lighter construction and more usable space inside the building, making it not only more resilient, but more cost-effective.

The UBC experiment tested the largest model of a concrete-core structure ever placed on a shake table. Concrete cores are reinforced walls that form the backbone of a building, running through its centre to keep it upright during side-to-side shaking from wind or earthquakes.

The system is not yet in use in Canada or elsewhere, but Dr. Yang’s team plans to work with engineering firms and community partners to bring it to residential and commercial projects.

“We’ve demonstrated that high-rise buildings can be designed to remain safe and damage-free after major quakes, using cost-effective and smarter systems. This approach can improve the resilience of high-rises in earthquake-prone regions around the world,” said Dr. Yang.

This article was adapted and published with permission from University of British Columbia.