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Engineering

The Role of Ductility in Seismic-Resistant Steel Moment Frames

Quick fact

Steel moment frames rely on ductility to absorb several times the energy of an earthquake than a brittle frame, allowing large deformations without fracture; this ductile behavior is what prevents collapse during strong ground shaking.

Why this is interesting

When a powerful undersea earthquake rattles a city, some steel skyscrapers sway dramatically yet stand tall, while others crumble. What hidden property lets steel flex instead of snap?