Protection Against Earthquakes and Tsunamis

Contents:  Preface. Acknowledgements. I. Behaviour of structures during earthquakes: 1. Introduction. 2. Earthquakes--causes, severity and forecasting. 3. Earthquake experiences. 4. Some major earthquakes and their effects. 5. Evaluation of earthquake. 6. Causes of structural failures. 7. Lessons from recent earthquakes. 8. Protection against earthquakes design considerations. 9. Tsunami Hazard. II. Earthquake preparedness for public: 10. Introduction. 11. Guidelines for earthquake preparedness. Appendices. References. Website links. Index.

"Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning causing deaths, injuries and extensive damage to property. Earthquakes never kill people, it is the poorly designed and constructed buildings that do. Damage, injuries and loss of life can be prevented if appropriate earthquake resistance design and preparedness measures are adopted. This book presents sufficient material and technical information necessary to protect structures and people from earthquake effects. Planners, architects, engineers and builders who are curious but do not have enough patience for mathematical treatment of earthquake engineering will find this book very useful. Tsunamis, though infrequent, are generated by rapid, large-scale disturbances of the sea mainly due to an undersea earthquakes travelling at very high speed in open water. Tsunami waves hit the shore like a wall of water carrying along everything in their path and cause deaths and extensive damage to coastal infrastructure. The tsunami that struck Southeast Asia and parts of Africa in December 2004 caused many deaths that could have been avoided only if there had been an effective warning system in place in the region. Realizing the present importance of the effects of tsunami waves, a new chapter on Tsunami hazard has been added."