Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
Limiting the Effects of Seismic Hazards
A thorough understanding of rock and soil types, conditions, and strength are fundamental to geotechnical earthquake engineering. If not adequately accounted for during the construction phase of a building, an earthquake poses the risk of economic loss, serious safety concerns, and other dire consequences. Since 1992, FNA Engineering Services has provided site-specific earthquake risk assessment studies and designs to mitigate the risk of a natural disaster, ground shaking, and vibrations caused by blasting or underground transportation channels.
One of the most challenging aspects of geotechnical earthquake engineering is minimizing the risk of seismic hazards for such an unpredictable event. That’s why it is crucial to adhere to all relevant state, local, and IBC seismic building codes and regulations, along with those put in place by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. While it’s impossible to eliminate all seismic risk, when you work with FNA, you have the comfort of knowing your foundation and structure are as well prepared for ground motion as possible.
Among the first and most critical steps in any excavation and construction project is performing a geotechnical soil investigation. Knowing the soil and rock you’re building a foundation in is essential for limiting seismic hazards. FNA’s geological earthquake engineers study soil samples and draft designs that ensure optimized performance and stability.
While there are many unknowns surrounding geological earthquake engineering, quantifiable projections offer insights into the effects ground motion can have on structures. FNA utilizes earthquake risk assessments and probabilistic and deterministic seismic hazard models to determine earthquake hazards, vulnerabilities, and exposures. The insights allow us to enhance designs and provide practical plans that minimize the likelihood of complete disaster.
FNA ensures every aspect of our geotechnical earthquake engineering solutions is compliant with or exceeds the standards of seismic building codes.
Complete elimination of damage and seismic hazards is unrealistic; however, by complying with regulations and guidelines, FNA significantly lowers the risk of worst-case scenarios. While ground shaking may cause some pictures or decorations to wind up on the floor, our expertly crafted designs are centered around:
As a multidisciplinary engineering firm, we provide our clients with comprehensive solutions for their construction projects. In addition to earthquake engineering, we offer soil investigations, advanced geotechnical analysis, deep foundation, and ground improvement services.
Our highly experienced team also specializes in:
Gain a deeper understanding of how we impact sites by exploring our notable projects.