antiseismic

Antiseismic refers to measures, designs, and practices intended to reduce the risk of injury and damage from earthquakes. The term is derived from anti- meaning against and seismic, and is used in civil engineering, architecture, and disaster risk reduction to describe approaches that improve a structure’s resistance to ground shaking and its post-earthquake performance.

Antiseismic design can cover new construction and retrofit work. In new buildings, it commonly involves structural systems with ductile detailing, robust connections, and redundant load paths, as well as devices that dissipate energy. Techniques include base isolation, where the superstructure sits on isolators that decouple it from ground motion, and energy-dissipation devices such as dampers. In existing buildings, antiseismic retrofitting aims to strengthen the frame, improve connections, and sometimes add base isolation or supplementary damping.

Implementation is guided by national or regional codes and standards that prescribe performance objectives and design methods. Practitioners use methods ranging from linear or nonlinear static analysis to nonlinear time-history analyses to assess how a structure will behave under earthquake excitations. Site conditions, soil type, and surrounding geology influence antiseismic design and retrofit choices.

Antiseismic measures reduce, but do not eliminate, earthquake risk. They aim to limit damage, preserve life safety, shorten recovery time, and maintain functionality of essential facilities during and after an event. Costs, maintenance, and proper detailing are important considerations in planning and execution.