SANTIAGO] Chilean scientists have developed a device that can help protect tall buildings from the effects of an earthquake.The device is made of flexible metal plates bent into a U shape, which connect different parts of a building's structural support system. When the building moves laterally, the plates deform and then return to their original shape, dissipating the seismic energy that would otherwise damage the building.
The plates proved their worth during February's earthquake in Santiago, when Chile's tallest skyscraper, the Titanium La Portada Tower — a 52-storey, 190-metre-high building that was fitted with 45 of the devices — survived intact.
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Author: María Elena Hurtado
