Research support for earthquake-proof buildings

Chengdu, capital of the west Chinese province of Sichuan, and one of the largest economy centres of western China, lies in the middle of a region highly prone to earthquakes. In the devastating quake on 12 May 2008 near the city Wenchuan, about 90,000 people lost their lives or have been declared missing. Since the catastrophe, 22,440 houses have been erected again and 1,047 kilometres of road newly constructed.

In order to investigate the effects of natural disasters on buildings in the future and better predict and/or even prevent possible damage through suitable constructions,  the Sichuan University established in 2013 the Western China Earthquake and Hazards Mitigation Research Centre. The International Advisory Board of the research centre consists of 18 high-ranking members from North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Beucke was nominated as an official member of the new group from Germany.

»With this, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar receives high recognition and visibility in one of the most economically dynamic regions of the world. The Earthquake Damage Analysis Centre (EDAC) in the Faculty of Civil Engineering has the chance to expand its international significance«, added Beucke.

The first session of the advisory board took place on 14 May 2013, the fifth anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake. The president of Sichuan University, Prof Xie Heping, welcomed the new members personally. In connection with the preliminary session, the members took part in a two-day workshop on earthquake/hazards mitigation and life cycle management.

During his trip, Prof Beucke also had the opportunity to go with special permission into the region near the cities Lushan and Ya'an, where a new earthquake occurred only three weeks before, on 20 April 2013. In spite of lower intensity of the quake, the damage to houses and streets are enormously high in the rural area. Out of fear of aftershock and unsafe housing, the people live chiefly in tents. »Here we see that the significance of earthquake research to ensure safer constructions can not be valued highly enough«, Beucke said. "The courage and solidarity of the people in this region are impressive".