CVLE 517 Earthquake Engineering

Course Syllabus – FALL 2020

Curricular Area
Type of Course
Catalogue Description
Prerequisites by Courses
Prerequisites by Topics
Civil Engineering – Structural Sequence
Technical Elective Course
Earthquake causes and measures, earthquake faults and waves, plate tectonics,
structural dynamics of single and multi-degree of freedom systems, dynamic
response spectra, equivalent static lateral force method, lateral loads resistive
systems, mitigation of earthquake forces.
CVLE 311– Structural Analysis (I)
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Adnan Masri (amasri@bau.edu.lb)

Instructors Engineering Building
Office F110 (Phone Ext 3423)
Tuesday: 10:00 - 12:00
Office Hours
Thursday: 10:00 - 12:00
Load 3credits; 2Lecture-sessions/week – 75 min per session
Textbook Earthquake Engineering, Charles K. Erdey, John Wiley , 2007

Reference Books - Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, S. Kramer, Prentice Hall 1996

- Design for Earthquakes, J. Ambrose & D. Vergun, John Wiley 1999
1. Earthquakes & Ground Motion
 History of Earthquakes- Causes of Earthquakes
Week [1-3]  Plate tectonics - Elastic Rebound Theory - Seismic Faults & seismic waves
 Intensity & Magnitude Scales - Types of seismometers
 Failure modes in RC Buildings
2. Structural Dynamics
 Equation of Motion of Single Degree of Freedom System
Week [4-6]  Natural Frequency & Period of Vibration
Topics
 Modes of Vibration for Multi-Degree of Freedom Systems
 Response Spectra
3. Earthquake Resistant Design of Buildings
 Design Approaches
Week [7-11]  Types of Lateral Load Resistant Systems
 Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure (UBC 1997-ASCE7)
 Application Examples
Week [12-14] 4. Presentations & Discussions of Term Projects
Learning Outcomes Correlation with Program Program
Outcomes Objectives
knowledge of earth geology in terms of plate tectonics and
earthquake characteristics. 1-2 1-2

knowledge of earth seismology in terms of ground motions, and

potential causes of structural failures. 1-2 1-2

Knowledge about the seismic characteristics of lateral loads resisting

systems. 1-2 1-2

Ability to apply the equivalent static lateral force method in

correlation with UBC 1997. 1-2 1-2

Knowledge in the dynamic response of single degree of freedom

systems. 1-2 1-2

Learning Outcomes Assessment Tools Exams HW s Lab Project Course

Reports Report Survey

knowledge of earth geology in terms of plate tectonics and     

earthquake characteristics.
knowledge of earth seismology in terms of ground motions, and     
potential causes of structural failures.
Knowledge about the seismic characteristics of lateral loads     
resisting systems.
Ability to apply the equivalent static lateral force method in     
correlation with UBC 1997.
Knowledge in the dynamic response of single degree of freedom     
systems.

Assessment:
1. Term Project: (20%)
2. Mid-Term exam (75 minutes): (40%)
3. Final exam: (40%)
4. ZERO-TOLERANCE policy on cheating and plagiarism.

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Class attendance will be taken and students will be penalized for
absences according to the rules set by BAU regulations, and specified in the CE Student Manual; i.e. students
who miss more than one-fifth of the sessions of any course in the first ten weeks of the semester will be
required to withdraw from the course with a grade of “W”.
Assessment Dates:
Mid-Term Exam: (9th week) November 2020
Final Exam: To be set later by BAU registrar.

Course Coordinator Dr. Adnan Masri

Date September, 2020