Building foundations are designed to withstand earthquakes by the following methods:
1. Ensuring adequate strength and stiffness: The foundation's strength and stiffness are critical in resisting the lateral forces that occur during an earthquake. The foundation is designed to be stiff enough to minimize the building's movement during a seismic event.
2. Soil investigation and analysis: The soil beneath the foundation must be investigated and analyzed to determine its ability to withstand the seismic forces. This is used in determining the type of foundation suitable and the required depth of foundation.
3. Use of seismic-resistant materials: The foundation material chosen should be resistant to seismic forces and the selected material should be strong enough to hold the weight of the building without getting damaged.
4. Implementation of effective drainage: The foundation should be well-drained, which helps in preventing the settlement caused by soil liquefaction during an earthquake.
5. Proper reinforcement with rebar reinforcement should be added to the foundation to reinforce the overall structure. These should be designed according to the anticipated forces and potential failure points.
6. Proper anchoring: The foundation should be anchored to the building securely to prevent it from sliding or drifting during an earthquake. Anchoring the structure helps the building to resist the shearing forces that occur during an earthquake.
Overall, seismologists and civil engineers apply seismic-resistant design principles which take into account local and national building codes and standards to design structures that can withstand significant earthquakes.
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