What type of seismic wave causes the greatest destruction to buildings?

The type of seismic wave that causes the greatest destruction to buildings is the surface wave. Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and tend to have larger amplitudes and longer durations compared to body waves (P-waves and S-waves). There are two main types of surface waves: Love waves and Rayleigh waves.

1. Love Waves: These waves cause horizontal shaking and can be particularly damaging due to their side-to-side motion, which exerts significant stress on structures.

2. Rayleigh Waves: These waves move in an elliptical motion, causing both vertical and lateral shaking. This multi-directional movement can be especially destructive to buildings, as they may not be designed to withstand such forces.

Overall, the combination of the prolonged shaking and the high amplitude characteristic of surface waves can lead to severe structural damage, resulting in more devastation during seismic events.