Earthquake-resistant structures in Iraq: design, materials, and challenges

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Iraq

Earthquake

2023-03-01 08:14

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Shafaq News / Um Athraa, a resident of Karbala, was compelled to revise

her building plans for her 150-meter plot of land in response to the looming
threat posed by the recurring seismic disturbances. Despite having
meticulously laid out the construction blueprint and having accumulated
adequate funds to procure conventional building materials, she found
herself forced to ensure the safety and protection of her family from the
treacherous earthquakes.

As the tremors continue to unsettle Iraq, the inhabitants are fraught with
anxiety over the possibility of their structures succumbing to the violent
tremors. In light of the fact that Iraq is projected to enter the seismic zone
in 2050, the Ministry of Construction and Housing has undertaken the
momentous task of establishing mandatory structural design standards for
all buildings rented to public and private engineering departments and
offices, ensuring their resilience and impregnability to the perilous
earthquakes.

Following the back-to-back catastrophic earthquakes that ravaged southern

Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, the region has been besieged by
incessant seismic activity. The most recent tremors recorded in Erbil, with a
magnitude of 3.9, and in the Nineveh Plains, with a magnitude of 4.3, are
the latest harbingers of the precarious situation in the region.

Hassan Maddeb, the Director of the National Center for Engineering

Consultations, a constituent of the Ministry of Housing and Municipalities,
has divulged that extensive efforts are underway to formulate robust
structural design parameters for all edifices, irrespective of whether they
are high-rise buildings or individual homes, that are capable of withstanding
earthquakes. This move comes in response to the imminent threat of Iraq
entering the seismic zone by 2050.

Maddeb has confirmed that these parameters will be implemented across

Iraq, and all engineering departments will be mandated to abide by them.
He has further revealed that a ministerial order from the General
Secretariat will be issued soon to ensure compliance with these structural
design parameters, thereby safeguarding buildings during earthquakes.
Additionally, a conference will be convened shortly to address this matter in
greater detail.

Furthermore, Maddeb has expounded on the characteristics of secure

buildings, emphasizing the importance of vertical concrete structures
attached to the ceilings. Conversely, buildings constructed using traditional
standard materials, such as brick walls and reinforced concrete roofs, are
highly vulnerable to earthquake damage.

Specialists have identified three primary reasons for building collapses

during earthquakes. It is imperative to employ high-quality building
materials and provide engineering supervision during construction to avert
such calamities. The experts have underscored the significance of using
earthquake-resistant building designs to mitigate the destructive effects of
seismic activity.

Faris Kareem, a civil engineer, has astutely remarked that meticulously

planned and constructed structures have the fortitude to withstand
earthquakes without succumbing to collapse. Among the most substantial
variants of such structures are low- to medium-rise buildings with concrete-
column structures that are more resilient than their towering counterparts.

According to Kareem, the three primary reasons for building collapses are
the paucity of concrete, feeble-resistant cement, and substandard
engineering designs, all of which are pivotal factors that determine the
stability or vulnerability of buildings.

Amer al-Jabiri, the media director of the Iraqi Meteorological Authority, has
identified the "triangle" of regions in Iraq that are prone to earthquakes. He
observed that Iraq is bereft of natural elements such as oceans and vast
mountain ranges that tend to shift the earth's crust. He further noted that
the Meteorological and Seismic Monitoring Authority has identified an
almost triangular area that encompasses the districts of Badra in Wasit,
Khanaqin and Mandali in Diyala, and Chemchemal and Kalar in al-
Sulaymaniyah. Al-Jabiri also pointed out that most earthquakes in Iraq that
are perceptible to residents do not result in the loss of life or property.
According to Hisham al-Dakhil, a contractor and construction specialist,
"Despite the existence of advanced techniques in construction, only
developed nations like Japan have been able to implement them
successfully. In Iraq, traditional building materials are still widely used, and
adherence to high international standards and engineering oversight of
construction projects remains at the discretion of the contractor and
building owner."

Al-Dakhil went on to explain that "Construction practices in Iraq vary by

region, with stone and rock being commonly used in the west, compressed
blocks in the north, and bricks in the central and southern regions."

He noted that "Bricks are the safest construction material in every way,
while thermostone, which is a lightweight material, is preferred for use in
earthquake-prone areas as it poses less risk of harm if it falls on someone
compared to solid blocks used in the north. Additionally, it is an insulating
material that offers benefits in both summer and winter, and its prices are
comparable to those of blocks."

Furthermore, al-Dakhil emphasized the importance of using locally

produced building materials as they are typically of better quality and
subject to proper control, unlike imported materials that often lead to
subpar construction results. He strongly advised against using low-quality
materials as they can compromise the safety and durability of a building,
leading to collapse in the event of an earthquake or other disasters.