Earthquake Engineering Concepts Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Earthquakes are one of the most devastating natural hazards that cause great loss of ______ and livelihood.

life

Over the past few decades, earthquake engineering has developed as a branch of engineering concerned with the estimation of earthquake consequences and the mitigation of these ______ consequences.

consequences

The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the earth, which includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the ______, the outermost layers of earth's structure.

crust

Subduction is the sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate of the earth's crust into the mantle beneath another ______.

<p>plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

Seismic quiescence refers to the relative increase in number of earthquakes or energy in any area of a seismic active region within a certain time interval in comparison with long-term observations in the same ______.

<p>region</p> Signup and view all the answers

Faults are fractures or zone of fractures between two blocks of ______.

<p>rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earthquake engineering is a branch of ______ engineering that provides the principles and procedures for the planning, analysis, and design of structures and facilities that are capable of resisting the effects of earthquake.

<p>civil</p> Signup and view all the answers

An earthquake is manifested as ground shaking caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth’s ______.

<p>crust</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earthquakes are now recognized to be the symptoms of active tectonic ______.

<p>movements</p> Signup and view all the answers

Plates are large and stable rigid rock slabs with a thickness of about 100 km forming the crust or ______ and part of the upper mantle of the Earth.

<p>lithosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

The mantle is the portion of the Earth’s interior below the crust, extending from a depth of about 30 km to about 2900 km; it consists of dense ______ rocks.

<p>silicate</p> Signup and view all the answers

The lithosphere moves differentially on the underlying ______, which is a softer warmer layer around 400 km thick at a depth of about 50 km in the upper mantle.

<p>asthenosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

The horizontal movement of the lithosphere is caused by convection currents in the ______; the velocity of the movement is about 1–10 cm/year.

<p>mantle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earthquake occurrence may be explained by the theory of large‐scale tectonic processes, referred to as ‘______ tectonics’.

<p>plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

This energy may originate from different sources, such as dislocations of the crust, volcanic eruptions or even by man‐made explosions or the collapse of ______ cavities, such as mines.

<p>underground</p> Signup and view all the answers

The theory of plate tectonics derives from the theory of continental drift and ______ spreading.

<p>sea-floor</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is earthquake engineering primarily concerned with?

<p>Designing structures to withstand earthquake effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the lithosphere?

<p>The solid, outer part of the Earth including the brittle upper portion of the mantle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes the horizontal movement of the lithosphere according to the text?

<p>Convection currents in the asthenosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are earthquakes defined as?

<p>Sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are plates according to the text?

<p>Large and stable rigid rock slabs forming the crust and part of the upper mantle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What theory does the theory of plate tectonics derive from?

<p>Theory of continental drift</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an earthquake manifested as?

<p>'Ground shaking caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the asthenosphere according to the text?

<p>'Plastic or viscous layer around 400 km thick at a depth of about 50 km in the upper mantle'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate of the earth's crust into the mantle beneath another plate?

<p>Subduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the relative increase in the number of earthquakes or energy in any area of a seismic active region within a certain time interval in comparison with long-term observations in the same region?

<p>Quiescence</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are earthquakes recognized to be the symptoms of?

<p>Active tectonic processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

What theory derives from the theory of continental drift and seafloor spreading?

<p>Plate tectonics theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the solid, outer part of the earth, which includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, known as?

<p>Lithosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are fractures or zones of fractures between two blocks of rock referred to as?

<p>Faults</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Earthquakes and Their Impact

  • Earthquakes cause significant loss of life and livelihood, making them one of the most destructive natural hazards.
  • The consequences of earthquakes have prompted the development of earthquake engineering, focusing on estimating and mitigating these impacts.

Lithosphere and Subduction

  • The lithosphere comprises the solid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and the upper mantle's brittle upper portion.
  • Subduction occurs when one tectonic plate moves sideways and downward into the mantle beneath another plate.

Seismic Quiescence

  • Seismic quiescence indicates a relative increase in earthquake activity in a seismic area over a specific time compared to long-term data.

Faults and Earthquake Engineering

  • Faults are fractures or zones of fractures between two blocks of rock, pivotal in earthquake mechanics.
  • Earthquake engineering is a specialized branch that focuses on designing structures to withstand seismic events effectively.

Mechanism of Earthquakes

  • Earthquakes are characterized by ground shaking resulting from the sudden release of energy within the Earth.
  • They are manifestations of active tectonic processes and occur due to tectonic plate movements.

Tectonic Plates and Mantle

  • Tectonic plates are large, stable slabs of rigid rock, approximately 100 km thick, forming the Earth's crust and part of the upper mantle.
  • The mantle extends from about 30 km to 2900 km beneath the crust and consists of dense, semi-solid rocks.

Lithosphere Movement

  • The lithosphere moves differentially atop the asthenosphere, a softer layer about 400 km thick in the upper mantle.
  • This horizontal movement is driven by convection currents within the mantle, occurring at velocities of 1–10 cm/year.

Tectonic Theory

  • The theory of large-scale tectonic processes is known as 'plate tectonics', explaining the movement and interaction of Earth's plates.
  • Earthquake energy can arise from crustal dislocations, volcanic activity, man-made explosions, or the collapse of underground cavities.

Theories of Geological Change

  • The plate tectonics theory is derived from earlier concepts like the theory of continental drift and seafloor spreading.

Summary of Essential Terms

  • Lithosphere: Solid outer part of the Earth, including crust and upper mantle.
  • Subduction: Movement of tectonic plates downwards into the mantle.
  • Seismic Quiescence: Period of increased seismic activity relative to long-term patterns.
  • Faults: Fractures separating two blocks of rock.
  • Earthquake: Ground shaking due to energy release within the Earth.

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Description

Test your knowledge of earthquake engineering concepts and characteristics in this quiz. Learn about terms like crust, lithosphere, subduction, faults, seismic activity, and tectonics.

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