题目内容:
Engineering design aims to link economic, social, environmental and of course safety factors to produce the best solution. This is especially true in earthquake engineering where it is possible to design a building that is “safe” for all types of earthquakes but does not fit the design brief. For example, it is not economically feasible to design buildings in Bristol to withstand a large earthquake as the chances are very small. Similarly a square concrete structure that has small windows and thick walls may be the ideal design for a particular area; however, it wouldn’t fit a design brief asking for a modern high-tech design. This balance of factors can only be achieved by engineers combining experience and knowledge of the area where the structure is to be located.Design practice has been changing over the last few years. The older design requirements used to insist that in an earthquake the building should maintain enough structural integrity to remain standing. This meant that if the serviceability limit state was passed the structure would have to be demolished, as it would be no longer safe to use. Although this concept saves lives as people can escape from buildings, it does nothing to prevent the huge financial cost of a large earthquake as a large proportion of buildings have to be demolished and rebuilt. Thus the new design requirements demand that the structure s
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