IIT-Mandi researchers develop metamaterial for constructing quake proof buildings

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Mandi) in Himachal Pradesh, developed a material that can be used for the construction of quake-resistant buildings.

Mandi: Researchers throughout the world have been trying to find out ways to minimise loss due to earthquakes. Quake causes large-scale destruction of human life and property. Now, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Mandi) in Himachal Pradesh, have developed a material that can be used for the construction of quake-resistant buildings. The IIT-Mandi research scholars have invented meta-material for constructing quake-proof homes.

Researchers at the IIT-Mandi said that the loss can be reduced to a large extent while laying the foundation of a building or a house with meta-material. Initial research has shown positive results. Dr Arpan Gupta, who is the lead researcher and associate professor at the School of Engineering, IIT Mandi, said, "It was found that even the strong waves of the earthquake could not harm the buildings whose foundation was made of the metamaterial." Rishabh Sharma, Dr Preeti Gulia and Aman Thakur are also a part of the research team.

Elaborating further, Dr Arpan said that the use of metamaterial while constructing a building or a house helps in weakening or reducing the waves generated by the earthquake. These waves don't travel in structures made of the metamaterial. Thereby, minimising the damage to the building to a large extent. The research findings were published in an international journal also.

"We, along with our research team, have been working on the project. Waves generated by the quake create vibrations in the foundation of the building. But, the foundation of the building made of metamaterial was less vibrating when the quake hits an area. We also studied the effect of waves on metamaterial foundation through computer simulation. The results were promising. Our work was carried out in an international journal also," Gupta summed up.