WHY

Earthquakes are destructive, unpredictable and difficult to characterize. Earthquakes cause tremendous damage to life and infrastructure, even in countries with modern construction codes and practices.

The magnitude of the forces generated by an earthquake may be the largest that the building is likely to experience.

Designing structures to resist seismic loads is probably the most challenging area of structural engineering.

WHAT

The course will introduce you to seismicity and to the dynamics relevant to the design of buildings. The course will provide theoretical background, principles, and practical methods for seismic design.

HOW

The course provides opportunities for you to:

l  extend your knowledge in the design of advanced engineering structures

l  understand the concept of seismic design and the means of achieving performance goals in buildings

l  understand basic concepts and requirements of conceptual design of structures for earthquake resistance

l  choose efficient structural systems and structural layouts

l  determine site specific design ground motion parameters

l  assess seismic loadings

l  design and detail structures to resist seismic loadings

l  appreciate the key behavioral characteristics of structures under earthquake loads

l  apply the main design rules and detailing requirements for structures according to the provisions of seismic design codes.

HIGHLIGHTS

The course develops skills in problem solving, with special emphasis on:

l  systematic theoretical background of seismic design of building structures

l  application of practical methods of seismic design

The course is recommended for both senior and postgraduate students in civil engineering as parts of their degree programs.

The course will introduce you to seismicity and to the dynamics relevant to the design of buildings. The course will provide theoretical background, principles, and practical methods for seismic design.

Structural mechanics

Loads and structural design method

1. Yingmin Li, Pu Yang. Seismic design of building structures, Chongqing University Press.

2. Anil K. Chopra. Dynamics of structures - Theory and Applications to Earthquake Engineering, Pearson education, Inc.

3. Ray W. Clough. Dynamics of structures，Computers & Structures, Inc.

4. National standard of P.R. of China, Code for seismic design of buildings, GB50011-2010