Earthquake engineering

lgciv2046  2019-2020  Louvain-la-Neuve

Earthquake engineering
Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
4 credits
20.0 h + 15.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Saraiva Esteves Pacheco De Almeida João;
Language
English
Prerequisites
Strength of Materials (course LGCIV1022), Structural Mechanics (course LGCIV1031) and Structural Analysis (course LGCIV1023)
Advised: Dynamics of Structures (course LGCIV2042)
Main themes
The objective of the course is to present, discuss, and apply the fundamental set of tools to understand, analyse, and design civil engineering structures subjected to earthquakes.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

AA 1.1, AA 1.2, et AA 1.3
  • Understanding basics of seismology on generation, propagation, recording, and measurement of earthquakes.
  • Explaining the components of seismic risk (Belgium as a case study).
  • Identifying favourable and dangerous conceptual design features.
  • Applying the relevant concepts of structural dynamics for single-degree-of-freedom and multiple-degree-of-freedom systems.
  • Understanding the important concept of elastic, inelastic, and design response spectra (with focus on Eurocode 8), together with force reduction factors.
  • Understanding and applying the main seismic design and analysis methods, namely: response spectrum, equivalent lateral forces, nonlinear static analysis (pushover), and nonlinear time history analysis.
  • Designing structures based on capacity design concepts (and Eurocode 8).
  • Being aware of common myths and fallacies in earthquake engineering.
  • Applying seismic design and analysis methods to reinforced concrete structures.
 

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
  • Basics of seismology: plate tectonics theory, faulting, seismic waves, recording an earthquake, measuring an earthquake, source-to-site effects.
  • Overview of seismic risk: seismic hazard, exposure, response of structures and vulnerability.
  • Conceptual design of buildings: joints and discontinuities in plan, soft storeys and discontinuities in height, symmetry and torsional effects, bracing systems, short columns and partially infilled frames, non-structural elements, etc.
  • Seismic analysis and design – Part I: dynamic response of elastic SDoF and MDoF systems (revision), the fundamental period, elastic response of SDoF and elastic spectra, inelastic response of SDoF and inelastic spectra, force reduction factors, design spectra (Eurocode 8), vertical component of the ground motion.
  • Seismic analysis and design – Part II: response spectrum method, equivalent lateral force method, nonlinear static analysis, nonlinear time history analysis, conventional design versus capacity design, design according to Eurocode 8, myths and fallacies in Earthquake Engineering.
  • Reinforced concrete structures: capacity design of wall (buildings), plastic hinge analysis, drawbacks of force-based design (and intro to displacement-based design).
  • Overview on seismic behaviour of structures with other structural materials, base isolation, technological advances, current research, curiosities.
Teaching methods
Lectures based on course slides and exercise solving with student participation.
Evaluation methods
Assignments and written exam. Specific details indicated in the Moodle course page.
Online resources
Available on Moodle
Faculty or entity
GC


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [120] in Civil Engineering