Masonry structures are complex systems that require detailed knowledge and information regarding their response under seismic excitations. Appropriate modelling of a masonry structure is a prerequisite for a reliable earthquake-resistant design and/or assessment. However, modelling a real structure with a robust quantitative (mathematical) representation is a very difficult, complex and computa...

Over the last two decades, significant research effort has been directed toward the application of advanced technologies to improve the seismic performance of civil infrastructure. MCEER has played a role in that development. In this paper, we present an overview of the integrated MCEER research program aimed at the development of a new generation of seismic resilient buildings. While MCEER res...

Original scientific paper Based on the experimental research on three cross-shaped columns with 500 MPa grade reinforcing steel bars, the contrastive analysis is made on failure mode, bearing capacity and displacement ductility of each column specimens with different stirrup spacing under the identical axial compression ratio. The research shows that the longitudinal bars yield before spalling ...

There are a large number of reinforced concrete buildings in seismically active areas of the world that are not built in accordance with modern seismic design provisions such as those published by American Concrete Institution ([ACI] Committee 318, 2008). In the United States and other parts of the developed world, these buildings were constructed between 1930s to mid 1970s according to the bui...

It is known that the seismic response of a structural system is highly influenced, in addition to the earthquake input, by the dynamic characteristics of the system itself. This paper presents an approach for the identification of the characteristics of the structural system resisting to horizontal loads which enables to satisfy given seismic performance objectives. This is achieved by consider...

Seismic acquisition footprint generally consists of modulations in recorded amplitudes that are spatially correlated to the surface locations of sources and receivers used in a survey. These amplitude variations obscure the true reflection response of the subsurface. In this study, synthetic seismic data were produced using numerical modelling code written in MATLAB. An “exhaustive” dataset was...

This paper presents the application of the harmony search based algorithm to the optimum detailed design of special seismic moment reinforced concrete (RC) frames under earthquake loads based on American Standard specifications. The objective function is selected as the total cost of the frame which includes the cost of concrete, formwork and reinforcing steel for individual members of the fram...

Advanced finite element techniques are used to investigate the multi-hazard (earthquake and blast) performance of Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes (CFSTs) and Concrete Filled Double Skinned Tubes (CFDSTs) for bridge engineering applications. Specimens of both sections are analyzed using the finite element package LS-DYNA under similar seismic and blast loading. First, behavior of CFSTs recorded in s...

A realistic numerical simulation model for all physical processes underlying the earthquake phenomenon on HPC's would provide a powerful tool to study fault behavior and earthquake nucleation. The microphysical particle-based Lattice Solid Model (LSM) currently being developed at QUAKES provides a basis on which to construct such a model. Presently, the model simulates stress transfer, seismic ...

This paper presents the application of the harmony search based algorithm to the optimum detailed design of special seismic moment reinforced concrete (RC) frames under earthquake loads based on American Standard specifications. The objective function is selected as the total cost of the frame which includes the cost of concrete, formwork and reinforcing steel for individual members of the fram...