Landmark seismic tests and computational seismic analysis covered in the courses (Link to videos).
Introducing the School
The Online School of Earthquake Resilient Design was founded by Dr. Marios Panagiotou (PhD, PE), in July 2018, to transfer high-end knowledge on earthquake structural engineering and design of cost-efficient earthquake resilient structures. The term earthquake resilient describes the design characteristic of structures after experiencing a major earthquake to become functional in acceptable time, eliminating the need for cost-prohibitive repairs, demolition and excessive downtime.
The target audience includes engineers, researchers, students, educational institutions as well as stakeholders working on earthquake and structural engineering. The school offers, online, courses on conceptual development, analysis, and design of earthquake resilient structures and on earthquake engineering. The courses integrate the most advanced knowledge on seismic analysis, behavior, and design of structures considering the state of the art of seismic analysis, seismic experimental testing and engineering practice. The teaching activities initiated with a 21-hour online+live+interactive course on Earthquake Resilient Buildings taught for first time between January and June 2019.
Why Earthquake Resilient Design
Seismic design of conventional buildings and bridges to modern code-minimum requirements aims to life-safety and a low probability of collapse under the design earthquake. Such structures are prone to significant post-earthquake damage, downtime, costly repairs, or demolition. The seismic performance of structures in highly developed countries in recent earthquakes strongly questions the adequacy of such design methodologies (example: Tall Buildings in Christchurch, New Zealand following the 2011 M6.2 Earthquake). Analytical and experimental research on earthquake structural engineering has provided with analysis, design methods, and technology that allow construction of cost-effective structures that sustain strong ground shaking and recover their functionality, in reasonable time, after a major earthquake without requiring cost-prohibitive repairs, excessive downtime or demolition.
Earthquake Resilience in U.S.
In United States, earthquake resilience is receiving increased attention with various relevant efforts. These actions were initiated because of Public Law 115-307 (NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2018) and legislation efforts in the State of California (Assembly Bill 393, 2019-2020, functional recovery standard). The online school published an article on the earthquake resilience and functional recovery of buildings in U.S.