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Iron Alloy Could Create Earthquake-Proof Buildings

Posted by samzenpus on from the shake-all-you-want dept.

separsons writes "Researchers at Japan's Tohoku University designed a new shape memory metal alloy. The super elastic iron alloy can endure serious stretching and still return to its original shape. The scientists say that once optimized, the material could be used in everything from braces to medical stents to earthquake-proof buildings!"

4 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Proof? by Elgonn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Earthquake-Resistant!

  2. not they aren't by YesIAmAScript · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Concrete is stronger under compression, but it's so lousy under tension that you put metal into it to take that strain. And how metal is supposed to be stronger than metal I dunno.

    And lighter than metal? Not yet. Tell me when you see stadiums with concrete roofs.

    Also how you're going to resist an earthquake with only compression I dunno.

    Concrete is very good at some things, others not so much.

    Personally I don't like formwork buildings. I know they're really common now I know, and you really can do so much with it I see why architects are interested, but right no I just feel like architects haven't figured out how to make appealing buildings with it yet. Right when we finally broke out of the International style with skyscrapers, it feels like formwork has knocked us back a bit.

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  3. Re:It will be expensive and unused by jgardia · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In Chile the earthquake was 8.8, and the deaths were about 500 (about half because of the tsunami).
    By law, you have to build everything to withstand an 8. I'm not sure if you've been in an earthquake, but I remember perfectly the one in 1985 (was magnitude 8), and it was damned strong. The last one was 6 times bigger.
    Anyway, we've been making anti sismic constructions for decades, and you can see the result in the last earthquake. Very few builings falled (most of them old), and low casualties. There have been also 10+ replicas over 6 since the earthquake (also a 7.2).
    So, please when you want to be pedantic and tell us "Those places will continue to lose people by the thousands every time a 6+ magnitude earthquake hits", please do your homework first. We usually have a 6+ at least once a year.

  4. Re:OMG THIS WAS PROPHESIZED by macshit · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Here's a visual representation:
    http://www.angryflower.com/atlass.gif

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