There are different factors that affect how structures perform during an earthquake. Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. It is comprised of sand, gravel, and crushed stone, held together with cement. Each material behaves differently.
Ductile materials perform better than brittle ones.
Examples of ductile materials include steel and aluminum. Examples of brittle materials include brick, stone and unstrengthened concrete. Height of the building different heights shake at different frequencies. Soil beneath the building. Magnitude and duration of the earthquake.