Which house would be more stable during a earthquake a brick or single story would frame house?

Answer 1

A timber building is more likely to be safe in an earthquake than a brick building, but this is not guaranteed, because it will depend on the structural design and the fixings used.

This is because:

* Timber has a natural elasticity (it will bend somewhat without breaking) * Timber is lighter than brick and because Force= mass.acceleration, a lighter building does not need to resist as much force as a heavy building in an earthquake.

The acceleration loads experienced by a building in an earthquake can be as strong as or stronger than gravity (9.8ms-2), and act in many directions and change rapidly. If you picture a building tossed onto its side, this would represent a similar size force to one of the many that are applied to a building in a large earthquake.

For a brick building to be safe in an earthquake, the bricks need to be tied back to an elastic structure (usually timber or steel) that will withstand the earthquake and be capable of carrying the load of the bricks and their accelerating mass during the quake.

The inelasticity of the mortar beween the bricks also means that the bricks are likely to separate and fall which makes them unsafe to be near in an earthquake.

For these reasons brick is only used as a veneer over structural framing, not as structure, in New Zealand, which is on an earthquke prone fault line on the Pacific Rim.

Answer 2

A timber home tends to be far more flexible then say brick or concrete rather then snap when pressure is put on it wood will bend and nails also are able to loosen and work backwards and forwards as opposed to joints in brick and concrete that snap suddenly without warning. My parents (many moons ago) lived in Indonesia where many buildings were made from bamboo tied together with hemp or whatever was available and after one earthquake they went through one of these places moved nearly a kilometer from its original site with no damage to it.

Answer 3

Well, in an earthquake is always better to be closer to the ground. In this situation, the one story wood framed house would be the best.

Answer 4

I believe the fact is that brick houses will cave in, in a serious earth quake.

Answer 5

Reinforce or strengthen the walls. Plywood panels can strengthen the walls. Metal connectors can strengthen the house's frame.

Answer 6

If you live near to a lake or river you can use the wood to float on them.

Answer 7

A short building made of flexible wood.