Civil engineering professor Moussa Leblouba from the University of Sharjah in the UAE has developed a simple device designed to reduce earthquake damage.
The device does not require electricity and uses basic physics to absorb and dissipate vibration energy during seismic activity.
The device is built around a cylinder with a rod running through its center and extending from both ends. Inside the cylinder, smaller rods branch outward from the main rod. The cylinder is filled with steel balls.
When a connected structure vibrates, the shaft moves back and forth inside the cylinder. The rods then push through the tightly packed steel balls. Leblouba said the friction created between the balls and rods absorbs and dissipates vibration energy.
According to Leblouba, the device achieved a damping ratio of around 14% in tests. This indicates that the system can reduce vibration energy to a reasonable degree.
He received a patent for the anti-earthquake device in 2025, though the design still needs further testing before it can be widely used.
The device offers several potential advantages. Because it does not need electricity, it could be easier to retrofit into older buildings.
It is also modular, allowing engineers to take it apart and replace components when needed. This could help keep the system in working condition over time.
Its simple design may also reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs.
The same simplicity could allow engineers to adjust the device based on the size, weight, and structural needs of different buildings.
The device has so far been tested only with small movements of 1mm to 5mm, or 0.04 inches to 0.2 inches.
It performed well in those tests and managed a stiffness of 5 kilonewtons per millimeter.
However, researchers still need to test it under more realistic conditions outside the lab.
Leblouba said the team plans to develop larger versions of the device and test the design through more realistic seismic simulations, including scale models of buildings.
Earthquakes remain a serious threat to cities and human life.
Some scientists are working on technologies such as fiber optics to detect earthquakes and tides, while others are developing ways to reduce earthquake damage.
Leblouba’s device falls into the second category. If future testing confirms its performance, it could offer a simple and low-cost option for improving building safety during earthquakes.
📢 For the latest Tech & Telecom news, videos and analysis join ProPakistani's WhatsApp Group now!
Follow ProPakistani on Google News & scroll through your favourite content faster!
Shares
