1st Edition

Fundamental Concepts of Earthquake Engineering

By Roberto Villaverde Copyright 2009
    974 Pages 509 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    While successfully preventing earthquakes may still be beyond the capacity of modern engineering, the ability to mitigate damages with strong structural designs and other mitigation measures are well within the purview of science. Fundamental Concepts of Earthquake Engineering presents the concepts, procedures, and code provisions that are currently being used to make structures as earthquake-resistant as is presently feasible.

    The book begins by describing the purpose, main aspects, and historical development of earthquake engineering and provides an overview of the type and extent of damage an earthquake can produce. It then introduces the concepts of seismology, the mechanisms of earthquake generation and propagation, and the difference between the various scales used to quantify the size of an earthquake and its potential to cause damage. The book also discusses the response spectrum and the different ways earthquake ground motions may be characterized and how local soil conditions may affect ground motion characteristics. Later chapters examine the design spectrum, conventional methods used to calculate the response of structures, soil-structure systems, and nonstructural components to earthquake ground motions.

    This comprehensive resource is certain to advance the knowledge of those tasked with taking preemptive action against the devastating effects of major, catastrophic earthquakes.

    Introduction

    Seismic Regions of the World

    Earthquake Genesis

    Earthquake Propagation

    Measurement of Earthquakes

    Characterization of Strong Ground Motions

    Seismic Hazard Assessment

    Influence of Local Site Conditions

    Design Response Spectrum

    Structural Response by Response Spectrum Method

    Structural Response by Step-by-Step Integration Methods

    Structural Response by Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure

    Structural Response Considering Soil–Structure Interaction

    Seismic Response of Nonstructural Elements

    Seismic Protection with Base Isolation

    Seismic Protection with Energy Dissipating Devices

    Seismic Code Provisions

    Appendix

    Biography

    Roberto Villaverde