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INSTRUCTOR: 
Praveen K. Malhotra, Ph.D., M.ASCE

Purpose and Background

​​The seismic resistance of a structure (to ground shaking) depends its: (i) weight, (ii) strength, (iii) deformability, and (iv) damping. Tall buildings weigh more (than short buildings) but they are also more deformable (than short buildings). Therefore, the height of a structure does not make it more vulnerable to ground shaking. An engineer may not have much control over the weight of a structure, but an engineer can control a structure’s strength, deformability and damping. Prescriptive seismic design relies only on strength to increase the seismic resistance of a structure. Therefore, the prescriptive seismic design can be very costly or even impractical at times. Innovative seismic design incorporates deformability and damping to reduce the strength-demand on a structure. Therefore, it results in a more economical seismic design. 

This class describes innovative solutions for the design of building structures, equipment, and nonbuilding structures. Real life examples are presented with emphasize on understanding. An intuitive approach is used to describe complex ideas. Questions and discussions are encouraged throughout the class. ​

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Utilize state-of-the-art knowledge in seismic resistance
• Quantify seismic performance of structures
• Explain the pros and cons of linear, nonlinear, satis, dynamic methods of analysis
• Explain role of damping and deformability in seismic design
• Recognize sources of damping and deformability in structures
• Explain Performance-based seismic design
• Apply Seismic design without the use of R factors
• Recognize an acceptable level of seismic risk

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Who Should Attend?

• Structural engineers
• Geotechnical engineers
• Architects
• Regulators
• Building officials
• Owners
• Operators
• Geologists
• Seismologists
• Insurers
• Educators
• Students

Outline

Session 1. Ground Motions from Past Earthquakes

• Acceleration, velocity and displacement histories
• Response spectrum of ground motion
• Acceleration-deformation response spectrum (ADRS)

Session 2. Ground Motions for Future Earthquakes

• Site-specific response spectra for static analyses
• Site-specific ground motion histories for dynamic analyses

Session 3. One-Story Building Structures

• Moment frames
• Braced frames
• Plastic rotations, strain hardening, P-A effect
• Effect of torsional-irregularityt

Session 4. Multi-story Building Structures

• Moment frames
• Braced frames
• Effect of sof-story (vertical irregularity)

Session 5. Sliding Response of Unanchored Equipment

• Nonlinear-static analysis
• Nonlinear-dynamic analysis
• Effect of friction on sliding response

Session 6. Rocking Response of Unanchored Equipment

• Nonlinear-static analysis
• Nonlinear-dynamic analysis
• Toppling response spectrum of ground motions

Session 7. Storage Racks

• Sliding of pallets in cross-aisle direction
• Collapse of racks in the down-aisle direction
• Cyclic tests of beam-column moment connections
• P-A effect

Session 8. Liquid-Storage Tanks

• Sloshing response of liquid
• Uplifting, sliding and plastic rotation at the base of tank
• Elephant-foot buckling
• Soil-structure interaction (SSI)

Session 9. Gantry Cranes

• Nonlinear-static (pushover) analysis
• Plastic rotations in beams and columns
• Ductile versus nonductile base anchors

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This course is worth 1.6 CEUs/16 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 30 days of the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]