_____ waves cause most of the damage to the built environment during an earthquake.

Surface waves on the built environment underscores the importance of seismic design in construction practices, especially within the framework of the Incident Command System (ICS). According to FEMA’s training material “Surface waves travel only near or at the surface of the earth. They are responsible for the strongest ground shaking and most of the damage to the built environment that occurs in large earthquakes.”

Additionally, for the connection with the Incident Command System and emergency management planning related to building codes and seismic risks, FEMA’s training material “Knowing how fast, for how long, and how much the ground moves during an earthquake is important for estimating how ground motion will affect the built environment.”

From the perspective of structural engineers and architects, the characteristics of surface waves present unique challenges in the design of earthquake-resistant buildings. These professionals consider the potential effects of both Love and Rayleigh waves when calculating load requirements and selecting materials that can endure the dynamic stresses caused by ground shaking.