Description

Book Synopsis
WHY DO BUILDINGS COLLAPSE IN EARTHQUAKES?

Learn from the personal experience and insights of leading earthquake engineering specialists as they examine the lessons from disasters of the last 30 years and propose a path to earthquake safety worldwide

Why Do Buildings Collapse in Earthquakes?: Building for Safety in Seismic Areas delivers an insightful and comprehensive analysis of the key lessons taught by building failures during earthquakes around the world. The book uses empirical evidence to describe the successes of earthquake engineering and disaster preparedness, as well as the failures that may have had tragic consequences.

Readers will learn what makes buildings in earthquake zones vulnerable, what can be done to design, build and maintain those buildings to reduce or eliminate that vulnerability, and what can be done to protect building occupants. Those who are responsible for the lives and safety of building occupants and visitorsarchitects, designers,

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction: why this book?

1.1 Earthquakes - an underrated hazard

1.2 Earthquakes, buildings, people

1.3 The authors’ experience of earthquake risk assessment

1.4 Aims of this book

1.5 Outline of the book

References

Chapter 2. How do buildings behave in earthquakes?

2.1 Learning from earthquakes

2.2 Significant earthquakes since 2000

2.3 What can we learn from these significant earthquakes?

2.4 Earthquake losses in rich and poor countries

2.5 Are earthquake losses decreasing over time?

References

Chapter 3. How are buildings constructed in earthquake zones?

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Built form, climate and earthquake resistance

3.3 Building construction types by earthquake zone

Box 3.1 Profile: Randolph Langenbach

3.4 Summary

References

Chapter 4. What happens in an earthquake?

4.1 What is an earthquake?

4.2 Volcanic earthquakes and Induced seismicity

4.3 How earthquakes travel through different media

4.4 Secondary Hazards

Box 4.1 Profile: Toshitaka Katada

4.5 Compound threats

References

Chapter 5. How do different forms of construction behave in earthquakes?

5.1 Introduction: range and classification of building construction types

5.2 Masonry construction

Box 5.1 Profile: Laurie Baker

5.3 Reinforced concrete construction

5.4 Timber frame construction

5.5 Steel frame construction

5.6 Comparing the vulnerability of different construction types

References

Chapter 6 How is the population affected?

6.1 Causes of earthquake casualties

6.2 Casualties due to building collapses

6.3 Survivability of an occupant in a building

6.4 Other causes of casualties

6.5 How can we estimate the number of injured and killed in an earthquake?

6.6 Estimating fatalities due to building collapses

6.7 Estimating casualties from secondary hazards and cascading effects

6.8 The way forward

References

Chapter 7. How can buildings be improved?

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Design of engineered buildings

7.3 Strengthening existing buildings

7.4 Building for safety programmes

Box 7.1 Profile: Amod Dixit

Box 7.2 Profile: Rajendra and Rupal Desai

7.5 Public awareness of earthquake risk: creating a safety culture

References

Chapter 8. Successes and failures in earthquake protection: a country comparison

8.1 Introduction: the survey

8.2 High achievers

8.3 Limited achievers

8.4 Continuing and growing risks

8.5 Country comparison of unsafe structures

8.6 Comparison of the country groups

Acknowledgements

References

Chapter 9. The way forward: what part can different actors play?

9.1 International agencies and global initiatives

9.2 Governments

9.3 Businesses and organisations

9.4 Homeowners and individual citizens

Box 9.1. Profile: Tracy Monk

9.5 Scientists and Engineers

Box 9.2 Profile: Edward Ng

Box 9.3 Profile: Lucy Jones

9.6 Non-government organisations

9.7 Insurers

9.8 The way forward

References

Why Do Buildings Collapse in Earthquakes Building

    Product form

    £79.16

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £87.95 – you save £8.79 (9%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Fri 3 Jul 2026.

    A Hardback by Robin Spence, Emily So

    4 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Why Do Buildings Collapse in Earthquakes Building by Robin Spence

      Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
      Publication Date: 19/08/2021
      ISBN13: 9781119619420, 978-1119619420
      ISBN10: 1119619424

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      WHY DO BUILDINGS COLLAPSE IN EARTHQUAKES?

      Learn from the personal experience and insights of leading earthquake engineering specialists as they examine the lessons from disasters of the last 30 years and propose a path to earthquake safety worldwide

      Why Do Buildings Collapse in Earthquakes?: Building for Safety in Seismic Areas delivers an insightful and comprehensive analysis of the key lessons taught by building failures during earthquakes around the world. The book uses empirical evidence to describe the successes of earthquake engineering and disaster preparedness, as well as the failures that may have had tragic consequences.

      Readers will learn what makes buildings in earthquake zones vulnerable, what can be done to design, build and maintain those buildings to reduce or eliminate that vulnerability, and what can be done to protect building occupants. Those who are responsible for the lives and safety of building occupants and visitorsarchitects, designers,

      Table of Contents

      Acknowledgments

      Chapter 1. Introduction: why this book?

      1.1 Earthquakes - an underrated hazard

      1.2 Earthquakes, buildings, people

      1.3 The authors’ experience of earthquake risk assessment

      1.4 Aims of this book

      1.5 Outline of the book

      References

      Chapter 2. How do buildings behave in earthquakes?

      2.1 Learning from earthquakes

      2.2 Significant earthquakes since 2000

      2.3 What can we learn from these significant earthquakes?

      2.4 Earthquake losses in rich and poor countries

      2.5 Are earthquake losses decreasing over time?

      References

      Chapter 3. How are buildings constructed in earthquake zones?

      3.1 Introduction

      3.2 Built form, climate and earthquake resistance

      3.3 Building construction types by earthquake zone

      Box 3.1 Profile: Randolph Langenbach

      3.4 Summary

      References

      Chapter 4. What happens in an earthquake?

      4.1 What is an earthquake?

      4.2 Volcanic earthquakes and Induced seismicity

      4.3 How earthquakes travel through different media

      4.4 Secondary Hazards

      Box 4.1 Profile: Toshitaka Katada

      4.5 Compound threats

      References

      Chapter 5. How do different forms of construction behave in earthquakes?

      5.1 Introduction: range and classification of building construction types

      5.2 Masonry construction

      Box 5.1 Profile: Laurie Baker

      5.3 Reinforced concrete construction

      5.4 Timber frame construction

      5.5 Steel frame construction

      5.6 Comparing the vulnerability of different construction types

      References

      Chapter 6 How is the population affected?

      6.1 Causes of earthquake casualties

      6.2 Casualties due to building collapses

      6.3 Survivability of an occupant in a building

      6.4 Other causes of casualties

      6.5 How can we estimate the number of injured and killed in an earthquake?

      6.6 Estimating fatalities due to building collapses

      6.7 Estimating casualties from secondary hazards and cascading effects

      6.8 The way forward

      References

      Chapter 7. How can buildings be improved?

      7.1 Introduction

      7.2 Design of engineered buildings

      7.3 Strengthening existing buildings

      7.4 Building for safety programmes

      Box 7.1 Profile: Amod Dixit

      Box 7.2 Profile: Rajendra and Rupal Desai

      7.5 Public awareness of earthquake risk: creating a safety culture

      References

      Chapter 8. Successes and failures in earthquake protection: a country comparison

      8.1 Introduction: the survey

      8.2 High achievers

      8.3 Limited achievers

      8.4 Continuing and growing risks

      8.5 Country comparison of unsafe structures

      8.6 Comparison of the country groups

      Acknowledgements

      References

      Chapter 9. The way forward: what part can different actors play?

      9.1 International agencies and global initiatives

      9.2 Governments

      9.3 Businesses and organisations

      9.4 Homeowners and individual citizens

      Box 9.1. Profile: Tracy Monk

      9.5 Scientists and Engineers

      Box 9.2 Profile: Edward Ng

      Box 9.3 Profile: Lucy Jones

      9.6 Non-government organisations

      9.7 Insurers

      9.8 The way forward

      References

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account