Carbon fiber noodles could save a building from an earthquake
Seismic retrofitting is a major endeavour that requires bolting an older building to its foundation so it doesn't shake apart in an earthquake. But depending on a building's age and what materials it's made of, a traditional retrofit has the potential to destroy a structure in an aesthetic way. A Japanese company believes strings of carbon fibre could solve this problem and wrapped them around its headquarters to show how this might work.
The super-light seismic reinforcement material named CABKOMA Strand Rod is made by the Komatsu Seiten Fabric Laboratory. It's a carbon fibre core, wrapped in additional fibres, and coated with a thermoplastic resin. A 520-foot piece weighs less than a garden hose and can be carried in one hand.
-Best way to absorb shockwaves
Carbon fibre is one of the best ways to absorb shockwaves without adding bulk. It has a very high tensile strength; in fact, it's as strong as steel, but 90 per cent lighter. And unlike rigid rods which require drilling for installation, the Strand Rod is a flexible, whisper-thin band that is secured using screws and an adhesive. It essentially works in the same way as the traditional brace-and-bolt, but instead of anchoring the building's walls to its foundation, it tethers the roof of the structure to the ground so that when the big shake hits, the entire building moves together.
-Wrapped like a harp
Komatsu Seiten used the Strand Rods as an architectural element. The strands drape off the side of the building like a harp, then are attached to the building's frame below the ground. While the space the strands add to a structure's footprint, it's certainly not practical for dense cities or taller buildings. The thin ribbons of carbon fibre look beautiful on their own. Think of it as a well-designed architectural safety net.