Carbon Fibre Noodles Could Save A Building From An Earthquake

Carbon Fibre Noodles Could Save A Building From An Earthquake

Seismic retrofitting is a major endeavour that requires bracing and 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 a different way — aesthetically. A Japanese company believes strings of carbon fibre could solve this problem, so it wrapped them around its headquarters to demonstrate how this might work.

Carbon Fibre Noodles Could Save A Building From An Earthquake
Light as a feather

Light as a feather

The super-light seismic reinforcement material named CABKOMA Strand Rod is made by the Komatsu Seiten Fabric Laboratory, which is based in Ishikawa, Japan. Yes, fabric: It’s a carbon fibre core, wrapped in additional fibres and coated with a thermoplastic resin. A 158m piece weighs less than a garden hose and can be carried in one hand.

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.

Komatsu Seiten recruited the legendary architect Kengo Kuma and Ejiri Structural Engineers to collaborate on a visionary application for its headquarters, where they have 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. The video above shows how the interior walls were strengthened by adding webs of the stuff throughout.

Carbon Fibre Noodles Could Save A Building From An Earthquake

This doesn’t necessarily mean Japan will go wrapping all buildings like rubber band balls. With the space the strands add to a structure’s footprint, it’s certainly not practical for dense cities or taller buildings. But I could definitely see it being used to protect a fragile landmark in a seismically active area that might not survive more invasive construction. Plus, the thin ribbons of carbon fibre look beautiful on their own. Think of it as a well-designed architectural safety net.

Carbon Fibre Noodles Could Save A Building From An Earthquake

[Komatsu Seiten Fabric Laboratory]

Top: The Komatsu Seiten Fabric Laboratory, wrapped in CABKOMA Strand Rods by Kengo Kuma. Photos by Takumi Ota


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