05-24-2013, 11:50 AM
When one considers the death toll from earthquakes in Christchurch NZ and in Chile, deaths number in the hundreds. When earthquakes occur in Nepal, Pakistan, India, Iran and other lesser developed countries deaths number in the thousands. This is because so much un-reinforced stone masonry is employed. I think there was a school in Iran where the kids ran outside during an earthquake and the walls fell on them.
This is not to say that all un-reinforced masonry is without merit. There are ancient ruins in the Andes like Machu Pichu where stone structures have stood for centuries through many earthquakes. Of course such architecture qualifies as one of the wonders of the ancient world. We still don't know how they fit those stones so well. Basically the stones fit together so well that when disturbed they would rather fall back into place than fall apart.
The moral of the story is to work within the limits of the material, plus the ancient Egyptians and Incas didn't scrimp on either materials or manpower.
This is not to say that all un-reinforced masonry is without merit. There are ancient ruins in the Andes like Machu Pichu where stone structures have stood for centuries through many earthquakes. Of course such architecture qualifies as one of the wonders of the ancient world. We still don't know how they fit those stones so well. Basically the stones fit together so well that when disturbed they would rather fall back into place than fall apart.
The moral of the story is to work within the limits of the material, plus the ancient Egyptians and Incas didn't scrimp on either materials or manpower.