The geographical location of Nepal places it in the Himalayan seismic belt which is a part of the larger Alpide seismic belt. Furthermore, it’s surrounded by Indian and European tectonic belts which form the Himalayan mountain range. This formation of the Himalayan mountain range causes frequent earthquakes in Nepal.
On April 25th, 2015, Nepal experienced a major earthquake of 7.8 Richter scales magnitude. This resulted in more than 10,000 deaths and more than 20,000 people injured. Nepal has experienced many major and minor earthquakes ever since. Nepal Seismological Center says Nepal experiences around 1200-1300 earthquakes every year. Most of these earthquakes are minor and go unnoticed. The most important source of information about the earth's core can be obtained from seismic activities or earthquake waves.
Frequent earthquakes occurring in Nepal have had a significant toll on construction. Here are a few ways how this:
The earthquake in 2015 took down numerous buildings throughout the nation including some cultural and historical buildings. Earthquakes can tear apart any building that isn’t built to
withstand seismic activity.
Earthquakes if occur on a higher magnitude can cause a lot of destruction which results in a halt of ongoing construction projects. The priority then shifts to the reconstruction of the fallen
structures.
When buildings collapse during earthquakes, a lot of people and animals lose their lives or get trapped inside them. This increases the need for earthquake-resistant structures in Nepal.
It is high time that the focus should be shifted to renovating the preexisting structures should be renovated according to seismic resistant principles. This will also be a great step to prevent
Nepalese live from future earthquakes.
The tragedies in the past call for the new structures to be able to withstand seismic activities and strictly follow seismic-resistant principles.
Site Selection:
It is essential to select a site that is stable enough to support a structure. It is also important to note that the site is not prone to landslides or other natural calamities that may be triggered by
earthquakes.
The foundation of the structure must be reinforced with steel and concrete. The design must be able to resist the force created by earthquakes.
The structural design of any structure must be able to absorb and distribute the forces. It should follow seismic-resistant principles and use diagonal braces and shear walls. Construction techniques and building materials are some other key factors to be taken into account.
Construction quality plays a vital role in building earthquake-resistant structures. The use of quality materials and skilled workers is a must to construct quality structures.
Regular maintenance and inspection ensure there are no compromises in the building process. It is also useful to identify and address any issues during the process.
After the devastating earthquake in 2015, there have been some positive efforts toward construction practices to make the constructions able to withstand earthquakes. Here are a few
ways in which construction in Nepal has changed in recent years:
New building codes and regulations require all new buildings to adhere to seismic-resistant design principles. The government has legally enforced these codes to promote building earthquake-resistant structures.
To be able to withstand forces generated by an earthquake, we need more flexible, and ductile materials that can add to the strength of the structure. Materials like earthquake-resistant steels, and fibre-reinforced concrete can be used while building.
After the earthquake in 2015, a lot of old structures are being retrofitted to be more earthquake-resistant. The damaged structures are also being reconstructed as per seismic-restraint design so the structures are sustainable and last a long time.
Professionals involved in the building process are trained in seismic-resistant design principles and other construction techniques so they possess relevant skills and knowledge that is required during the process.
These systems can be used to track real-time seismic activities. It also provides data on ground motion in case of an earthquake. This is considered very useful for the design and construction of
earthquake-resistant structures.
This technology can be used to manufacture building components. Complex building shapes can be manufactured using 3D printing technology which will save plenty of time and labour. It can also be used to manufacture shapes that can absorb and alleviate forces.
Prefabricated materials are assembled in a factory and then they are transported to the construction site for further assembly. This can save a lot of time and cost in the building process.
Uses of sustainable building materials and renewable sources of energy are a few examples of Green Building Techniques. These techniques help reduce carbon footprints. It also adds to the resilience of the buildings against earthquakes.
These innovations can uplift the construction practices currently being used in Nepal. It’s necessary to promote seismic-resistant design principles for construction. Incorporating these technologies will ensure the construction of quality structures in Nepal. Construction companies in Nepal should focus on implementing these techniques to design and build earthquake-resistant structures.