Learning objectives
• Knowledge and understanding:
Aim of the course is to provide the fundamentals for the design of
reinforced concrete and masonry building under seismic actions.
• Applying knowledge and understanding:
The main skills that students should acquire at the end of the course are:
o Achievement of good ability in the structural concepts of new civil
buildings subject to seismic action;
o Achievement of sufficient sensitivity to the main issues related to
assessment of existing buildings subjected to seismic actions;
• Making judgements:
The design and verification of structures performed with the aid of
calculation codes has become current practice nowadays. The complexity
of computer codes and number of structural verifications required by
regulations may be a source of significant computational and conceptual
errors. Therefore, the student will govern the procedure adopted in the
current design practice, with a constant link between the theoretical
knowledge and the practical applications making use of analytical
calculation for the control of the results obtained with software.
Communication skills:
The confidence gained through a constant connection between
theoretical knowledge - structural modelling with finite-element programs
- control of the results obtained with simplified analysis of the structural
response, will allow the student to possess the necessary skills for results
presentation.
Learning skills:
The student will have to design a reinforced concrete building and a
masonry building. The review of the calculation reports that will be
performed during the preparation of the student for the oral exam will allow to
check the ability of student learning.
Prerequisites
It is useful the theoretical knowledge of the calculation of internal actions
in frame buildings subjected to static and dynamic actions with
calculation methods, either manual or numeric (it is believed that this
knowledge can be gained in Module A of the same course).
Course unit content
The Module 2 of the course treats the fundamentals of the design of structures
under seismic actions. The contents of the course are listed below.
Full programme
• Preliminary concepts of civil engineering seismology and methods of
measurement of seismic motion;
• Spectral response analysis: example of static and dynamic analysis for
2D frames;
• Ductility, criteria for structural regularity and behaviour factors;
• Capacity design approach;
• Combination of the seismic action with other actions, limit state
verifications;
• Design and detailing of reinforced concrete frames;
• Modelling of reinforced concrete frames through finite element codes;
• Design and detailing of reinforced concrete wall systems;
• Design and verification of foundations and diaphragms;
• Existing reinforced concrete buildings: push-over analysis (theory and
applications);
• Seismic behaviour of masonry structures;
• Design and detailing of masonry buildings: theory and applications;
• Out-of-plane failure mechanisms in masonry buildings: theory and
applications;
• Specific issues for existing and historical masonry buildings;
• Design and detailing of reinforced concrete precast buildings;
• Retrofitting techniques for existing precast buildings;
• Current codes and calculation reports in compliance with national and
regional norms;
Bibliography
- Recommended texts:
T.PAULAY, M.J.N. PRIESTLEY, "Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete and
Masonry Buildings", John Wiley & Sons, INC.
GHERSI, A. e LENZA P., Edifici antisismici in cemento armato, DARIO
FLACCOVIO EDITORE, 2010.
GHERSI, A., LENZA P. e CALDERONI, B., Edifici in muratura alla luce della
nuova normativa sismica, DARIO FLACCOVIO EDITORE, 2011.
- Further texts:
COMO, M., Statica delle costruzioni storiche in muratura, ARACNE
editrice, 2011.
PODESTA’, S., Verifica sismica di edifici in muratura, DARIO FLACCOVIO
EDITORE, 2012.
All the teaching material is available via the platform Elly
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures, course materials can be downloaded from
the platform Elly. Some exercises will be carried out
during the course to enable students to practice with structural analysis
of buildings under seismic actions. Some seminars are organized by
inviting engineers working in the field of earthquake engineering in order
to enable students to approach the world of work, which is awaiting
them.
Assessment methods and criteria
The students will have to design a reinforced concrete building and a
masonry building. The examination consists in the presentation of the
calculation reports and an oral discussion with the teacher. The level of
students learning can be measured as follows:
Reinforced concrete building report: 50% divided as follows:
15% conceptual design;
10% skill in modelling;
10% mastery in results analysis;
10% check of numerical results with analytical calculations;
15% knowledge of theory.
Masonry building report: 50% divided as follows:
15% conceptual design;
10% skill in modelling;
10% mastery in results analysis;
10% check of numerical results with analytical calculations;
15% knowledge of theory.
Other information
It is strongly recommended to attend lessons.
