Projects of structures in seismic areas

Learning outcomes

This teaching defines the principles for the design, execution and testing of buildings, with regard to their required performance in terms of seismic capacity.

The course therefore provides the general safety criteria, deals with the actions that must be used in the project in seismic areas, illustrates the characteristics of the materials and products, defines the methods of seismic analysis and safety verification, and, more generally, deals with the aspects relating to the seismic safety of the works.

The teaching focuses on ex-novo constructions, with particular reference to reinforced concrete and steel structures.

Course contents

Contents

• Elements of geoseismics and seismology
• Seismic capacity: lift against horizontal forces; stiffness to horizontal actions; dissipative capacity
• Ductility factor theory: behavior factor q
• Limit states and probability of exceeding
• Limit state requirements
• Subsoil categories and topographic conditions
• Description of seismic motion
• Elastic response spectra in acceleration
• Displacement elastic response spectrum of horizontal components
• Design response spectra for Operational Limit State (SLO), Damage Limit State (SLD), Safety of Life (SLV) and Collapse Prevention (SLC)
• General characteristics of the buildings: regularity in plan and height; infinitely rigid horizons; distance between contiguous buildings.
• General design criteria for structural systems: dissipative and non-dissipative structural behaviour; ductility classes; design in capacity and overstrength factors; resistance hierarchy; fluffy top; vertical axis torsion; secondary elements; non-structural building elements.
• Modeling criteria
• Analysis methods: linear static analysis; linear dynamic analysis; non-linear static analysis; non-linear dynamic analysis.
• Verification criteria: compliance with the requirements regarding the Limit States
• Concrete constructions: material characteristics; structural types; behavior factors; sizing and verification of primary and secondary structural elements.
• Steel constructions: material characteristics; structural types; behavior factors; sizing and verification of primary and secondary structural elements.
• Existing buildings: outline.

Teaching methods:
The course consists of ex-cathedra lessons. During the course, the student is required to carry out the design of a reinforced concrete structure in a seismic area. The teacher assigns a specific design theme to each student.

In his planning action, the student is assisted by the teacher: revisions in the classroom are foreseen of the individual projects of the students.

Prerequisites

Preliminary exams are: Construction Science; Construction technique. The prerequisites can be summarized as the ability to design, analyze and verify reinforced concrete and steel structures for static actions.

Assessment methods

The exam includes an oral test in which the project is discussed and the preparation of what is covered in class is verified. The grade of the exam is the synthesis of the oral exam and of the project presented and discussed.