According to Fox News, the walls of the California Pacific Medical Center, slated to open in 2020, will be designed to sway during a catastrophic earthquake, allowing the building to stay operational. The walls’ swaying ability will be made possible by shock-absorbing polyisobutylene, a Japanese-developed compound commonly used to make soccer balls, according to the report.
“As the one floor moves relative to the other floor in the earthquake, it’s pushing a vein through this viscous material, absorbing the energy of the earthquake,” said Jay Love of Degenkolb Engineers, which is leading the $2 billion project, according to the report.
One hundred and twenty burgundy viscous wall dampers filled with the polyisobutylene goo will be positioned around the exterior of the 274-bed hospital. If an earthquake occurs, the building will sway gently as the specially lined walls absorb the shock, according to the report. UC San Diego engineers say the dampers should be able to withstand a 7.9-magnitude quake, the same as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that killed more than 3,000 people and leveled 80 percent of the city.
The new California Pacific Medical Center is the first building in the U.S. to use the goo technology. If they hold up as planned, viscous wall dampers could become standard for building tall structures in earthquake zones, according to the report.
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