The course addresses the dynamics of structures, the fundamentals of earthquake engineering, and the influence of earthquakes on structures.
The course focuses on the dynamic properties of structures, i.e., natural frequencies and vibration modes; the characteristics of the earthquake load, i.e., frequency content, excitation direction, and strong motion duration; and the relationship between loading and structural properties. Several numerical approaches to analyse structural responses under dynamic loads will be introduced. The role of the ductility and damping of structures and isolation measures to reduce the impact of earthquakes will be addressed. To relate the course materials to real-life situations, the consequences of several strong earthquakes on structures will be discussed.
The understanding developed will enable a reliable design of structures under seismic loads.
This course consists of weekly lectures and tutorials, two lab activities, research assignments, and tests. In addition, you will be expected to learn through additional reading, problem-solving, and other work outside of formal contact hours. The course requires students to familiarize themselves with basic mathematics and the stiffness of structures. The course is supported by published texts.