Earthquake Hazards

and
Seismic Design
Richard P. Ray Ph.D. P.E.

Direct Effects
Ground failures
(instabilities)

Surface faulting
Vibration of soil
Ground cracking
Liquefaction
Ground lurching
Differential settlement
Lateral spreading
Landslides

Vibrations transmitted
from the ground to the
structure
xt

c
k/2
xg

k/2

Direct Effects
xt

m
k/2

k/2

xg
mx mxg cx kx 0
mx cx kx mxg Pearthquake (t )

Indirect Effects

Tsunamis
Seiches
Landslides
Floods
Fires

Seismic Resistant Construction

Prevent non-structural damage from
minor shaking
Prevent structural damage and minimize
non structural damage in occasional
moderate shaking
Avoid collapse or serious damage in
rare, major ground shaking

Soil Movements

Wood Frame Houses

Masonry Structures

Concrete Structures

Steel Structures

Earthquake Resistant Designs

Construction and Maintenance

Need for more comprehensive approach
Importance of conceptual design
Decrease of demands
Action of the soil-structure system

Good Pile Design

Bridge Foundation and Supports

Integral Action of All Parts

Proper Building System

Building should be light
Simple, symmetric, regular
Uniform and continuous distribution of mass
(m), stiffness (k), strength (y), ductility ().
Avoid long spans and long cantilever
Non-structural elements
Separated completely
Tied to structure

Proper Building System

Control inelastic regions
More than one defense line
Stiffness and strength of building matches
stiffness and strength of foundation and

Building Should Be Light

Building Should Be Simple,

Symmetric, and Regular

Building Should Have Uniform

and Continuous Distribution of
Mass Stiffness Strength Ductility

Retrofitting Soft Stories

Non-Structural Should Be
Integrated With Structural

Structures Should Have the

Largest Number of Defenses

Building Should Have Balanced

Stiffness, Strength, Ductility
Between Members, Connections,
Supports

Construction Aspects

Building Research

Newer Designs