PURPOSE OF

ENGINEER
For preventing Earthquake
 Earthquake Engineering
• Our objective in earthquake engineering research is to improve the state
of knowledge, through fundamental and applied research, to help
decision-makers reduce seismic hazards.

• Decision-makers are defined as all the individuals and agencies affecting

the planning and design/construct process, such as planning or
regulatory agencies, owners, investors and insurers — and the engineers
who protect against seismic hazards through earthquake-resistant
design.

• Earthquake engineering is a multi-phased process that ranges from the

description of earthquake sources, to characterization of site effects and
structural response, and to description of measures of seismic protection.
Our current research includes occurrence modeling, geophysical
modeling, ground-motion modeling, stochastic and nonlinear dynamic
analysis, and design and experimentation. Components of these studies
pertain to the individual phases but also, and perhaps more importantly,
to aspects that incorporate some or all of the phases of earthquake
engineering.
 Seismic hazard and risk analysis
For over 30 years, research at the John A. Blume
Earthquake Engineering Center has focused on seismic hazard
and risk analysis. Early work focused mainly on modeling
sources, occurrence and attenuation, and developing
probabilistic hazard analysis methodologies, using Poisson
models and Bayesian models. In recent years, considerable
efforts have been placed on introducing mechanistic models to
occurrence and attenuation phenomena. Time- and space-
dependent models have been introduced to represent the fault
rupture mechanics and the stress accumulation and release
cycles of large earthquakes. Most recently, advanced
computational tools, such as geographic information systems
(GIS) and database management systems (DBMS), have been
used to capture, analyze, integrate and display the tectonic,
seismological, geological and engineering information needed in
seismic hazard assessment.
• Working with various countries in Central America, North Africa,
Asia and Europe, our researchers have developed seismic
hazard maps and structural design criteria, while our faculty
and graduate students have significantly contributed to the
development of models and methods for earthquake
vulnerability and risk assessment. Current research uses
analytical models for damage and structural vulnerability
assessment that are based on nonlinear structural response
simulation. A key question currently being addressed is the
assessment of losses resulting from structural damage.
Damage and vulnerability models are developed for individual
structures within the context of performance-based engineering
and more generic vulnerability models are formulated for
application over large regions to many different types of
structures. These risk assessment tools have been
implemented and utilized by the practicing engineering
community as well as by government agencies,
insurance/reinsurance companies and financial institutions
• Researchers in our department are also working on
seismic risk assessment models for transportation
systems. These models use GIS and transportation
network analysis tools to estimate the losses from
damage to components of the system as well as those
due to traffic time delays or inaccessibility of particular
locations. Tools for emergency response and resource
allocation following disasters are key features currently
under development. Significant components of this
research are supported through the Pacific Earthquake
Engineering Research Center (PEER).
 Ground motion modeling
Prediction of strong ground motion continues to be a
major research area in earthquake engineering, using simulation
of ground motion models for seismic hazard analysis, stochastic-
physical rupture process models for ground motion prediction,
prediction of ground motion for engineering applications, and
study of the nonstationary characteristics of simulated and
recorded ground motions for nonlinear analysis of structures.
Various geophysical models are being considered for simulating
strong ground motion, and recorded motions from recent
earthquakes are being studied for their characteristics and
damage potential. Recent seismological studies have focused on
the understanding and characterization of strong ground motion
in the near field. The effect of near-field motions on structures
has been observed from past earthquakes to be particularly
important; however, systematic studies of these effects had not
been conducted so they now are a focus of current research
 Damage potential of ground motion

Experience in past earthquakes has shown that the

engineering profession has not yet succeeded in defining
ground-motion parameters that correlate well with observed
damage. From an engineering perspective, we are seeking
representations of the seismic “demand” that can be used,
through convolution with the structural “capacity,” to assess
structural reliability. Thus, both demand and capacity need
to be evaluated, the latter with due regard to structural
characteristics and cumulative damage effects that depend
on strong motion duration. If this can be achieved, seismic
risk analysis can be based on reliability concepts, and
design parameters can be derived that are consistent with
the damage potential of the ground motions.
• Research studies on seismic hazard analysis, input and
response characterization, structural reliability, and design
are treated as interrelated subjects through a consistent
and coordinated approach. The major components of this
research are development of damage models for
structural response; characterization of ground motions
based on damage potential; reliability evaluation; seismic
risk analysis; and development of design parameters.
 Design and experimentation
Considerable effort is being devoted to design research
that can be implemented directly in engineering practice. This
research, concerned with methods to evaluate and improve the
behavior of new and existing structures in severe earthquakes,
includes:

• Development of a deformation-based seismic design

methodology.
• Dynamic stability considerations and P-delta effects.
• Evaluation of the effects of stiffness and strength irregularities
in plan and elevation.
• Cumulative damage modeling.
• Retrofit measures for existing structures.
• Exploration of new materials and new structural systems for
earthquake resistance
THANK YOU
For listening