Jorhat Prof. Patents Anti-quake Project in Japan

Jorhat, Jan. 27: A professor of Kyushu University at Fukuoka in Japan, hailing from Jorhat, has come up with two novel earthquake resistant techniques advocating the use of recycled tyres with sand and cement to minimise impact of severe earthquakes on buildings.

Hemanta Hazarika, an alumnus of JB College Jorhat, is a professor of the geotechnical engineering group in the department of civil and structural engineering of the university that is completing its centenary this year.

Hazarika, who was in his hometown for a few days, spoke exclusively to The Telegraph about the two research projects of which he is the team leader. Hailing from a very high seismic zone (Northeast) and Assam witnessing a major earthquake in 1950 that had caused largescale loss of human lives and property, the professor hopes the techniques could be of use in the region.

Hazarika, also an alumnus of IIT Chennai, had been in Japan for the last 19 years working with construction companies and research organisations before taking up teaching about eight years back. He said being in Japan, a country known for frequent and big earthquakes, his interest had been kindled on research work to find out ways to reduce the damage from earthquakes.

Speaking about one of the techniques evolved by the research group under him that took about seven years, Hazarika said a cushion, made of recycled tyre chips (very small pieces cut out from tyres) which is mixed with sand, is attached to both sides of a wall of a building. The professor said a cushion made from recycled-tyre having elasticity, being lightweight and with high vibration absorbing capacity and long durability, could prevent a building from collapsing when attached to both sides of the walls. He said cement, too, along with sand, could be mixed with the tyre chips for making the cushion a bit stronger. Tests had shown “good results”. The project has completed application trials and he has got a patent in Japan for it. Hazarika said the technique was expected to be released soon for commercial use with the proposal being submitted to the Japanese government and also to private construction companies.