Especially regions in Southern and South-Eastern Europe are repeatedly confronted with earthquakes and their consequences. In March 2020, for example, there was a strong earthquake in the Croatian capital Zagreb, in which thousands of structures were destroyed. We want to meet the increasing demand for earthquake-resistant buildings in these areas and help make the houses and thus life there safer.
AAC in earthquake zones?
Earthquake resistance is one of the greatest challenges for modern building materials. With the help of laboratory tests and simulations based on them, we are working on setting up our products for such extreme requirements.
27 April, 2021
How is earthquake resistance tested?
For more than ten years, Xella Technologie- und Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (T&F) has been continuously working on optimizing masonry systems made of autoclaved aerated concrete with regard to earthquake resistance. Within the framework of several projects, extensive tests are carried out on Ytong autoclaved aerated concrete blocks in our testing facilities for earthquake simulation at the Emstal site. Tests are carried out to assess the deformation capacity. For this purpose, the test walls are subjected to a cyclic horizontal load for several hours, simulating a seismic action. Based on the results of these tests, computer simulations are performed to evaluate the earthquake resistance of eleven different building configurations made of AAC blocks. The results of the earthquake projects will be translated into technical regulations and can then be appied in practice.
Standardized earthquake resistance
The use of masonry in earthquake zones requires special technical verification. The earthquake standard for building structures specifies resistance requirements and limits for deformations. For any new building system that does not meet the requirements of the standard, specific verification of its behavior under earthquake loading is required. Masonry systems using lightweight AAC blocks are not specifically covered by the European seismic standard, so Xella T&F worked with Italian EUCENTRE to develop an assessment document that served as the basis for issuing a European Technical Assessment (ETA). The ETA was issued by the Austrian Institute for Building Technology (OIB) and contains rules for the application of a construction kit for load-bearing masonry in regions with medium earthquake stress.