Scientists and researchers are now looking into using what they refer to as an invisibility cloak to hide structures from seismic waves. Although technology and engineering are currently developing advanced solutions to collapsing building during earthquakes, scientists also suggest a natural way that can be more effective.
Invisibility cloaks might sound like a product of the future technology but its concept of it does not sound as complicated as most people might think. Skyrise buildings are now a common scene in developed cities but for regions near the pacific rim of fire, these structures would need special protection from earthquake to prevent destruction.
The elastodynamic cloak or invisibility cloak that was created by the English mathematician, William Parnell, is said to divert shock waves, leaving a building almost untouched by earthquake. The rubberized material reportedly should be wrapped around the base or the key components of any structure. By doing such, the building is expected to be spared from the severe damages brought about by an earthquake. Experts are still testing the idea but the strategy is already deemed impractical.
As the invisibility cloak might not receive wide acceptance from building owners, two alternatives were developed: a zigzag array of holes and cloak of trees. A physicist along with his colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory have been conducting studies on how buildings can be made resistant of seismic waves. The team claims it practically drilled holes of varying sizes around infrastructures, the seismic waves will be deflected.
According to their experiments, the team revealed that such strategy can reduce the effects of magnitude 7 earthquake down to magnitude 5 or even lower. The theory though has not yet been tested in real life situation and the negative effects of holes on nearby structures and the building itself are still unknown.
Following this, a more natural solution is being looked at by mathematicians from the Imperial College in London. Along with their French collaborators, the team has been looking at ways on how trees can protect buildings from earthquake effects. The team claim that by surrounding a building with a cloak of trees, the seismic waves will be deflected even before they reach the structure. Such condition is claimed to be protecting natural forests where the irregular heights and pattern of the trees serve as covering to surrounding areas.
Accurately predicting earthquakes is still not possible these days hence researchers continue to search for possible ways to protect life from such natural disaster. While the study of the invisibility cloak is still well underway, the alternative techniques of using zigzag holes and cloak of trees might be considered to protect structures and life for the mean time.
