Background

Studies of past earthquakes, especially in developing countries, have shown that numerous deaths are often attributed to the collapse of poorly constructed housing. If the level of seismic demand, imposed on these buildings, was reduced through a simple but reliable base isolation technique, fewer buildings would fail and fewer lives would be lost. Researchers at McMaster University’s Department of Civil Engineering have developed a prototype isolator to effectively mitigate the effects of earthquakes on low-rise buildings in high seismic regions.