SAN DIEGO – The Latest on California researchers putting a six-story, steel-frame building to a series of earthquake tests (all times local):
3:20 p.m.
A six-story steel-frame building on the world's largest shake table has undergone one of a series of tests to see how the structure would withstand major earthquakes.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, witnessed Wednesday the towering building jolting and swaying in a simulation of the 6.7-magnitude Northridge quake.
That temblor caused heavy damage to the Los Angeles area in 1994, but the building withstood the force Wednesday.
The experiment could help determine whether steel frames are a better option than wood frames for tall buildings in earthquake-prone areas.
The construction industry is interested in building tall, steel-frame residential buildings because they are cheaper, faster and more durable than wood-frame buildings.
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11 a.m.
California researchers plan to rock and rattle a six-story steel-frame building on the world's largest shake table to see if the structure can withstand the force equal to a 6.7-magnitude earthquake.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, hope the experiment Wednesday will help them determine whether steel frames are a better option than wood frames for tall buildings in earthquake-prone areas.
The construction industry is interested in building tall, steel-frame residential buildings because they are cheaper, faster and more durable than wood-frame buildings.
Wood frames are also known to collapse as well as catch fire during major earthquakes.
The six-story building was built in a week and will undergo a simulation of the Northridge quake, which caused significant damage to the Los Angeles area in 1994.
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